Evidence of meeting #10 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was police.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
With respect to a question from Mr. Brock, my understanding is that when the eventual clearing of people was being undertaken—yes, they did it peacefully and they should be saluted. I agree with you on that, but at least one point in time, blockaders attempted to remove a revolver or a firearm from some of the police that were doing the removal. Is that your understanding as well?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I don't have any information on that, Mr. Virani.
Sometimes that can be a difficult job, but I think the police did it very well.
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Ms. Boniface asked you about the difference between the provincial declaration and the federal declaration. My understanding is that the provincial declaration had power only to deal with trucks that were plated in Ontario or licensed for insurance in Ontario, but the declaration didn't have jurisdiction over trucks that would be plated or insured in Alberta. Is that correct?
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, I read the two letters you gave us. The respective premiers of Manitoba and Alberta asked the federal government to take action, but nowhere does it say you were asked to invoke the Emergencies Act. You were asked for assistance in the form of providing equipment and staff to tow the vehicles.
Once again, when we look at the appendix we spoke about earlier, it's clear that three provinces asked for the Emergencies Act to be invoked. These were Ontario, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The other provinces were all against it.
On what exactly did you base the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, Minister? The provinces didn't want it, and the police were not asking you for it.
What were your grounds for deciding to invoke the Emergencies Act?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
We were relying on assessments that a national emergency existed and that it represented a significant threat to the interest of Canadians.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Who told you that?
Where did the idea that it was a national emergency come from?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I was aware that, for example, our borders were being blocked. In Ontario, that was $400 million worth of trade every day. Auto factories were being idled right across the province. Literally thousands of workers were being sent home.
In my opinion, sir, that rises to the level of a national security threat against critical infrastructure, which is manufacturing and transportation, and we needed to act.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Thank you.
Minister, can you please provide the committee with any documentation that there were plans to resume the blockades or conduct blockades at other border crossings?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I don't have that documentation; I was briefed on that.
I believe as well, Mr. Green, and—
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I received a verbal briefing, but I've also read a number of open source reports on the same subject. There was a very sincere, legitimate concern that these blockades would return.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
It was yes-or-no question.
Do you believe that the response of the convoy and the occupation in Ottawa was a failure of policing, yes or no?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I believe it was unsuccessful. That's the language I would use; it was unsuccessful. They weren't able to resolve it.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Do you believe that your preparation and emergency preparedness was a failure?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
I'm well aware of my responsibility, sir. Frankly, making sure that the Ottawa Police Service were effective in their response to dealing with a public order event in their city is not my responsibility. When they went into difficulty, I did feel a responsibility to help in every way I could.
Senator, Ontario, C
Thank you very much.
Thanks, Minister, again.
This thing went on for weeks. I'm not sure that the Canadian public understands how difficult it is for police officers to start wearing through the 12 or 14-hour day, day after day, and why at some point something had to occur. Whether it's the Emergencies Act or something else is a discussion we'll have, but something had to happen to alleviate that. The fact that it was growing would have an impact on policing.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Senator, I think it's more than fair to acknowledge that this was an extremely challenging event for all of the officers who were involved here in the city of Ottawa, in Windsor and right across the country. It's a difficult job we asked them to do. It had gone on for days. We know that the police officers were facing criticism from both sides of that protest, from people who were being really significantly impacted, from the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve, as well as from the protesters who have certain rights, but those rights were well exceeded to the point of criminality.
It was a very difficult thing for the police officers to respond to.
Part of my conversation with the police chief in Ottawa was about his concern for his officers and the impact this event was having on them.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
Thank you very much.
The final question goes to Senator Carignan.
Claude Carignan
Minister, you spoke with the Ottawa police chief on all the matters that you've presented here, but you never held a discussion about his plan to clear downtown Ottawa. That's unbelievable! I have trouble believing you.
You reaffirmed that you didn't have any discussions with representatives of the Ottawa police service about its plan to clear Wellington Street.
Is that correct?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Senator, I was a police officer for 39 years and a police chief in Toronto. I know the difference of responsibility. I have great respect for the authority and responsibilities of the police chief.