I think I try to be very clear in terms of my opinion on the Emergencies Act.
Was it theoretically needed in law? No. Was it helpful? Were they tools that assisted the police? Yes. I think that's the best way I can summarize my opinion on the Emergencies Act. Whether it met the legal test or threshold, which I know is something that this committee is going to examine, that is something that extends beyond the police, but I think that's how I can summarize it best.
In terms of the time, in terms of what's being perceived as a delay, I can very much imagine how frustrating it must have been for the residents of Ottawa, but I do ask Canadians to look closely at civil disruption that has taken place around the globe and how police services have responded. There has been serious injury; there has been death; there has been riot. We just need to look south of the border to see how a police response can turn on a dime.
The timing is not ideal. The timing will never be ideal. If Ottawa police moved sooner and somebody was seriously injured or killed, we would be at a different type of inquest or inquiry. This was a no-win situation, I think, for the police and for the residents of Ottawa.
It is such a shame that there's so much attention on the action or perceived inaction of the police, as opposed to the demonstrators and protesters, who are the ones responsible for what victimized the city of Ottawa and this entire country.