Declaration of Emergency Committee on June 14th, 2022

[Claude Carignan]

I understand that.

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

It was a political decision, but I'm not trying to evade responsibility for it.

[Claude Carignan]

In that case, who had the idea?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I'm prepared to say that I agreed with the decision when we made it, and that's still the case today. We did the right thing.

[Claude Carignan]

I understood long ago that you approved of the decision.

Who had the idea? Who suggested it to you?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

It was an emergency and we discussed it at length.

[Claude Carignan]

All right, but who suggested that you freeze bank accounts?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Once again, we discussed that at length. Senator Harder and Mr. Fortin asked me why it took so long to resolve the situation. We had a lot of discussions in the department and many conversations with other colleagues. We wondered every hour of every day…

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Minister, I apologize. Senator Carignan's time is up.

Colleagues, can we go with one minute each if we'd like to do another round and wrap up?

If we're agreeable to that, we'll start with Mr. Motz.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Minister, I share the frustration of many of my colleagues around this table. We've danced for 90 minutes, and we don't have any answers at all, actually.

It appears that you refer to that binder a lot. In its entirety, can you present it to the committee, yes or no?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I make no apology for preparing carefully for appearances like these.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Can you present that binder to the committee, please?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I believe in doing my homework. These notes are for my own personal use.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Well, can you present them to committee, yes or no?

Obviously that's a no.

Did you sign the memorandum to cabinet proposing the declaration of the emergency?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

I don't recall precisely who signed it, but I hope I did, and I would be happy to have signed it.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Thank you, Mr. Motz.

Mr. Virani.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Thank you.

Minister Freeland, I'm going to go fairly quickly.

The freezing of the accounts actually occurred by operation of the regulation, not just on February 24 when the invocation ended, but as soon as the illegal activity ceased. So if somebody stopped being part of an unlawful blockade, their account would be unfrozen. That's the operation of the regulation, correct?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

Yes, it is. In fact, the RCMP issued a statement, which I brought here, so I could refer to it—

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I only have one minute, Minister Freeland, but that's terrific. Thank you.

The restrictions on property were about cutting off the supply chains that were allowing the convoy to continue for week after week. Is that correct?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

That's right.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

In fact, the mere invocation of the regulation and the threat of things such as one's truck insurance being revoked were enough to actually incentivize people to cease their unlawful behaviour and leave the blockade. Is that correct?

[Chrystia Freeland, Liberal, University—Rosedale, ON]

That is what was reported by law enforcement authorities, certainly.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

You talked about reputational risks to Canada, and I know you and Minister Ng have worked very hard on things such as the American “build back better” bill and the EV tax credits. When we have issues such as supply disruptions on the Ambassador Bridge affecting the auto industry, does that have a direct impact on your ability to stop U.S. protectionist measures, such as “build back better”?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Minister, yes or no?