Evidence of meeting #16 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.
Mayor, City of Ottawa
I'm not well versed on prime ministers going to speak to protesters, so I wouldn't have any historical information to offer an informed opinion.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Thank you, Mr. Brock and Mr. Watson.
I now give the floor to Ms. Bendayan for four minutes.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you.
I'll follow up on Mr. Brock's question regarding mediation.
I, myself, am an accredited mediator. I certainly believe in the power of mediation, but mediation requires the right parties around the table. I understand from your earlier testimony that there was no representative or even representatives who were in control of the blockaders within Ottawa. I believe it was Mr. Kanellakos who stated that earlier.
Is that correct?
Mayor, City of Ottawa
Yes, there's no question there were many leaders, and they didn't all sing from the same hymn book, if you will. As a result, we were approached by Ottawa Police Service to see if we could get involved, first through Mr. Kanellakos, then—
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
But there was no single person—or persons—with whom to negotiate?
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you.
You also testified earlier that Minister Blair attempted to set up a tripartite working group or meeting—federal, provincial and municipal governments all together—to communicate, exchange information and find solutions.
At the commission, you testified about your disappointment that "the Province rejected that." You went on to say “They didn't feel it was necessary to have three Orders of Government at that political level to have this table.”
I can only imagine your surprise and disappointment, as mayor of the second-largest city in Ontario, over your province not being interested.
Mayor, City of Ottawa
I think that's a fair assessment. The premier did not come to Ottawa during the entire occupation, which was unfortunate. He called the tripartite proposal by the federal government a waste of time. I felt it was a lost opportunity. He thought it was going to be a bit of a gabfest: “Why would you have all these people sitting around a table?” I said, “Because we need to get on the same page to get this thing—”
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Particularly, I understand you had a conversation with the solicitor general of Ontario. She was under the impression that there were 1,500 OPP officers on the ground. You indicated that was not true, at all. In fact, you had to explain to the provincial government that there were more like 50. That's quite different from 1,500.
How is it possible there was such a lack of understanding and communication between municipal and provincial governments, in this case?
Mayor, City of Ottawa
My understanding is that, within the last week or so at the inquiry, there was a clarification that the information the minister was getting was incorrect. I think they were doing an accumulation of days, so, if 50 came one day, then 40 left...another 50...they'd keep adding it up. I don't know how they got to 1,500, because we would know if there were 1,500 OPP officers downtown. You would see them in their distinctive uniforms.
Mayor, City of Ottawa
As a final point, I think the other challenges.... I went back to the police after I heard that from the minister, and they said it was 50 to 55 OPP on any given day.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I have one final question in the time that remains.
You testified, in response to earlier questioning, that your confidence eroded by the second weekend. As we know, this blockade lasted far longer than that. How did you foresee this ending? What needed to happen? Did you believe an intervention was necessary for this to end in your city?
Mayor, City of Ottawa
Absolutely. What was happening was that the protesters—the occupiers—were emboldened. They had a national and international stage: the Parliament Buildings as the backdrop, with music blaring out and speeches by everyone—
Mayor, City of Ottawa
It was going to end with police intervening and cleaning up the site. We needed the officers and we needed the tow trucks. When those both became available, we saw action taken.
October 27th, 2022 / 8:25 p.m.
Mayor, City of Ottawa
As a result of the Emergencies Act.... That allowed us to get tow trucks. We ended up having to put Ottawa Police Service decals on the trucks, because the tow trucks were still fearful of retaliation by—
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Your time is up, Ms. Bendayan.
Thank you, Mr. Watson.
Since it's my turn to speak, Mr. Green, would you please take the chair?
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Thank you, Mr. Green.
I am addressing you again, Mr. Watson, because you're the mayor of Ottawa. I heard your testimony. If the situation were to recur, would there be a way of preventing people from occupying downtown Ottawa?
Mayor, City of Ottawa
Thank you for your question. It gives me an opportunity to speak a little in the language of Molière.
In hindsight, we should have shut down Wellington Street much sooner. Everyone could figure that out when the trucks were coming. They shouldn't be that close to the parliamentary precinct.
As I said, I think the prize for the protesters was having the backdrop of Parliament Hill. If we shut Wellington and they go down to Slater or Albert.... There's nothing spectacular about the scenery on Slater and Albert, and they probably wouldn't stay that long.
I feel that we made a mistake by not shutting down Wellington Street ahead of time. We've learned our lesson.
