Thank you very much.
The consultations I was having with law enforcement were with respect to the performance of their duties under the authorities that existed under the municipal bylaws, under provincial statutes and under the Criminal Code. They were clearly having difficulties in effecting the lawful purpose of restoring public order in the city of Ottawa, protecting the people of Ottawa and opening up those vital trade corridors that were being blockaded. Law enforcement was clearly having difficulties in doing that, and I needed to understand why. I asked them a number of questions about how they were performing their duties and what impediments they were encountering to do their job.
One of the considerations government has to consider before invoking the act is to ensure that no other law of Canada can be applied to these circumstances. I think it was absolutely essential and appropriate to consult with law enforcement to see why they weren't able to effect this lawful purpose so that we could, based on the information they provided, make decisions about what would enable them to do the job of restoring order, restoring peace, opening up those trade corridors and ending what was clearly a national emergency.