Declaration of Emergency Committee on Oct. 27th, 2022

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Correct.

[Kim Ayotte]

The storage of large propane containers in a consolidated area was also a risk in a different way, in that they weren't going to be used as incendiary devices, but they could—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

At what point did your emergency operations committee consider Coventry Road? Was that something that was brought to you as city-owned property? Was that something you okayed to say, yes, we're going to allow a logistics supply chain to be set up off-site?

[Kim Ayotte]

Coventry was supposed to be for overflow parking only, originally. Police came to us and said they didn't have space for all of these vehicles coming into downtown Ottawa—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

So let's accommodate them.

[Kim Ayotte]

—and they were looking for overflow parking, so we approved it for that. It morphed into something else as time went on.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Correct. At that time, when it morphed, what was your response back to the police in terms of what was one of the most sophisticated logistics supply chains I've ever seen on a direct action when it relates to a protest? What was your response to the OPS?

[Kim Ayotte]

Well, we certainly weren't happy with the use of city property for that purpose.

But we were also reminded throughout this incident that any single point of contact could cause riots. Without having the experience in Canada that we see in the United States.... Our exposure is to what happens in the States. Do we want people killed? Do we want—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Was January 6 a reference for you when you were doing your planning on the emergency operations?

[Kim Ayotte]

It wasn't just January 6. When you look at all the racial incidents that are happening in the States, and the far right versus far left incidents, those are all concerns that we didn't want to happen in Ottawa. From an objective of keeping citizens safe—

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

But to be clear, there were no incidents of far left present on this particular action. That's just for the record.

As it relates to aid to civil power, is that something you contemplated?

[Kim Ayotte]

No.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

In your past, for other things that have happened, have you ever—

[Kim Ayotte]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

It's when the Attorney General of the Province of Ontario requests that the military come in to provide backup support.

I see you nodding your head, Steve. Is that something you're familiar with?

[Steve Kanellakos]

Yes. There was a discussion. There was actually a motion crafted at council, but it never proceeded.

I did raise the issue with the deputy minister of public safety to say that there were inquiries about using civil aid, and he said it was a non-starter for the federal government.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

For the provincial....

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You're speaking time is up, Mr. Green.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

It's just for a point of clarity. I want to make sure that we're clear.

[Steve Kanellakos]

You're right, sir, it is through the provincial, but the question was posed: Would the federal government support it if the request came through?

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Just for the record, as a point of clarity—it's a very important distinction—you're saying that it was the federal government that said it wasn't.

[Steve Kanellakos]

I was advised that it was a non-starter.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

From the federal government—

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

I'm sorry, Mr. Green, but you've gone well beyond your speaking time.

Senator Boniface, you have the floor for five minutes.