Declaration of Emergency Committee on June 14th, 2022

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

It absolutely does.

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

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Thank you.

Mr. Fortin, you have one minute.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Freeland, we knew in advance that the convoy was headed for Parliament Hill. There was also a blockade on the Ambassador Bridge. The trucks were coming and the police were concerned.

At some point, did a member of cabinet or you yourself speak to the police and tell them that measures had to be taken to secure Parliament?

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

Mr. Fortin, as you very well know, it isn't normal…

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You have 20 seconds left, Minister.

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

—and it isn't right—

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You don't know?

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

—for the Minister of Finance to contact Ottawa police officers to…

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

As I understand it, Minister, you never did anything to prevent the roadblock.

Is that correct?

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

No, it's not.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

What did you do to dismantle the roadblock apart from invoking the Emergencies Act?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Fortin, your time is up. I apologize.

Mr. Green.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Minister of Finance, ultimately, the buck stops with you. Madam Minister, in your testimony, I think you let it slip. You said the RCMP “instructed”, and then you said “consulted with” the banks on which accounts to freeze.

Who would have made the decision? Would it have been the RCMP or the banks?

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

I was clear that there were two routes. Under the order, the banks, using their internal processes, acted so as to be certain that they were complying with the order.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Were any of the accounts—

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

The order also permitted the RCMP to communicate directly with the banks and to share with them information to comply with the order.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Were any of the accounts linked to ideologically motived violent extremist groups?

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

Again, it was not the job of the Department of Finance to be involved—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Did you receive any debriefs?

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

—in choosing which accounts which should be frozen or not frozen. That's a—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Did you receive any debriefs?

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

—very important point, and I want to lean in hard on that particular point.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

You can lean as much as you want. Did you receive a debrief?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Green, your time is up.

Moving to Senator White, you have the floor.