Declaration of Emergency Committee on Feb. 27th, 2024

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Is it true that only three provinces agreed with invoking the Emergencies Act: Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia? Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island said no. Whereas the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut didn't respond. Do I have that right?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

I'd like to check the notes and what we have—

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You can check, because I have them in front of me. They're the same documents you have. I know that you don't have them with you. You weren't prepared to answer our questions; you said so earlier. That said, it falls under—

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

I don't think I said that I wasn't prepared to answer your questions. I think you're putting—

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Then it was probably in relation to Commissioner Rouleau.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Yes, I think that you—

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Yes, that's correct. It was about Commissioner Rouleau.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Fortin, I would never have said that I wasn't prepared to answer your questions.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Indeed, I know you, Minister, and I trust your good sense and intelligence. That's why I'm a bit surprised that you don't remember the outcome of that consultation. However, I can confirm that only three provinces agreed.

In spite of that consultation, in spite of the situation unfolding, which has been described to us over the past little while—particularly by Senator Carignan, who quoted the reports stating that the streets were almost empty—in spite of the fact that the blockade on the bridge had been lifted, in spite of all that, you made that decision. Will you please tell me what was in the legal opinion?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

You're going back to—

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Without showing it to me, can you tell me if there was anything that—

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

You're very persistent—I'll give you that. You're going back to the legal opinion.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

I know, but I'm trying to help you. You need to justify your decision, but you're not helping me.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

I'm very comfortable with the decision.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

All the documents I'm looking at indicate that the general opinion was that the act didn't need to be invoked. Even the former—

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Fortin, your time is up.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

That's unfortunate, Madam Chair. My colleague was about to say something extraordinary.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

I'd really like to hear something extraordinary, for a change.

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

I'd just like to stress that the decision to declare a public order emergency was ratified by the House of Commons through a vote.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin), Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Yes, but that vote was controlled by the Prime Minister, who had invoked the Emergencies Act. We know that.

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Green, you have three minutes.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Mr. Virani, you identified that the Government of Canada is the client.

Who is the solicitor?

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

I am the solicitor, as well as the people who assist me from my office.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

You're also part of government.

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

That is correct.