OTTAWA –
The federal liberal government has agreed to provide sensitive documents to the cabinet for an investigation into the use of the Emergency Situations Act during the Freedom Convoy protest.
The Public Order Emergency Commission said on Tuesday that the government had agreed not to claim the cabinet’s privilege on “critical” documents that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers considered in the decision.
It said the government was committed to the extraordinary step of providing “all the materials that were before the cabinet” when it declared a state of emergency in February, weeks after protests by convoys that took over Ottawa’s center and erupted at border crossings.
Of the 371 federal commissions of inquiry convened after the Confederacy, only the fourth has received such access, the commission said.
He said they had not yet received the documents, but expected them to arrive “soon”.
Trudeau’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The news came hours after Commissioner Paul Roulo released a list of participants to whom he granted full participation in the investigation, including convoy organizers, police forces and the three levels of government.
Those who are granted full rights include the federal governments, the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the cities of Ottawa and Windsor, Ont., The Ottawa Police Department, the National Police Federation, and a group of 10 convoy organizers, including Tamara Leach, Tom Marazzo, and Chris Barber.
Full legitimacy means that they will be notified in advance of the information presented as evidence before the investigation, as well as certain privileges, such as the ability to offer or cross-examine witnesses.
Ontario police were given full involvement except for cross-examination of witnesses or the presentation of political documents.
Leach, who along with Barber faces criminal charges related to the convoy, was arrested in Alberta on Monday for violating bail conditions, Ottawa police said.
Rollo gave the convoy’s drivers the right, along with a non-profit corporation called Freedom 2022 Human Rights and Freedoms, for their “key role in the events that led to the declaration of the state of emergency.”
But he denied the legal capacity of a number of other participants and supporters of the convoy, some of whom have frozen bank accounts under the law, saying that “just witnessing relevant events does not in itself justify granting legal capacity.”
He also rejected the Conservatives’ candidacy.
The party sought to participate on the grounds that the committee’s work would have a far-reaching impact on current and future members of parliament, and said in a statement that it had “substantial and direct reputational interest” in the investigation.
Rulo writes in his decision that the CPC does not demonstrate how its interests on a number of factual and socio-political issues differ from those of the public as a whole.
The commissioner said the investigation must remain an independent, non-partisan process, noting that a special joint commission of the House of Commons and the Senate is tasked with reviewing the use of the powers of the Emergency Situations Act.
“We respect the Commissioner’s decision, but we do not believe that this liberal government is transparent or accountable, and we will continue to use all available means to ensure that the liberal government is held accountable,” said Dane Lloyd, a conservative critic of preparedness. for emergencies, a statement issued early Tuesday said.
Conservatives have urged liberals to give the investigation access to cabinet documents.
The commission has not yet said whether Trudeau or cabinet ministers will be asked to testify at the public hearings, which are expected to begin in September.
In addition to the groups granted full status, other entities, including the Canadian Police Chiefs Association, Ottawa Business Associations, industry groups and civil society organizations, have been granted partial eligibility, allowing them to submit only certain types of applications. .
Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloley, who resigned the day after Ottawa invoked the Emergency Situations Act, will be allowed to submit documents, make statements on factual, evidentiary and policy issues and question witnesses, and the Manitoba government was allowed to provide written statements.
The Trudeau government triggered the Emergency Act on February 14, a week after protesters first blocked the Detroit-Windsor bridge and a few weeks later what he called the “illegal occupation” of downtown Ottawa by protesters against the blockade and their vehicles. funds.
This was the first time the government invoked the law since it was passed in 1988.
Interim measures under the law have given authorities more leeway in arrests, fines, towing cars and asset freezes.
Trudeau revoked the declaration of state of emergency on February 23, two days after the NDP joined the Liberals in a proposal by the House of Commons reaffirming his government’s choice to use the exclusive powers.
The commission, which the government had to set up under the provisions of the Emergency Situations Act, has a mandate to present a final report to parliament by 20 February 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 28, 2022.
Interestingly, another development from the national investigation: “The Government of Canada … has agreed not to claim the Cabinet’s privilege on the documents that the Cabinet took into account in the decision to declare a state of emergency”, #cdnpoli
– Rachel Ayelo (@rachaiello) June 28, 2022
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