Evidence of meeting #9 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 laws.
A video is available from Parliament.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Were you privy to those conversations with the Ottawa police, prior to the arrival?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
No, I was not.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
In your observation, would it be safe to say that, when they arrived, their logistic supply chain made them a bit of a unique outlier, in terms of direct action against the government? This wasn't a typical protest. Is that correct?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Absolutely. This is what gave rise to our concern about the potential for violence.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Does this include the distribution of the fuel to trucks and include the crane with a wrecking ball in front of the PMO?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Absolutely.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
June 7th, 2022 / 8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
It was reported earlier.... I'll say this. This question was put to the interim and he said it was almost normal or regular. I had never seen anything like that.
Given the unique threat presented here, were you privy to reports that the Ottawa police were in ongoing dialogue with the convoy and occupation, and that they were trying to broker some kind of solution?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
That is the normal course.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Is it also the normal course to help an occupying group of people set up a base camp not far from the city? Is that the normal course?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I can't answer that question, sir. I think the Ottawa police—
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Are you aware that the Ottawa police, in negotiation with the convoy, helped the convoy set up a base camp? Are you aware of that?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I think I am, of course, through public sources. If I were to attribute motivation to the Ottawa police, it was to try to de-escalate the protest right from the start.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Absolutely. It turned out in a way nobody anticipated.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
If people come here with the express purpose, under an MOU, to overthrow the government, and the Ottawa police set up a base camp for them off-site and allow a logistics supply chain to develop—including fuel and food going to and from the occupiers—would you not anticipate they had no intention to leave?
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I believe the reason for offering the Coventry Road ballpark at the start was just as a parking lot for extra trucks. I don't think it was anticipated they would set up a base camp.
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
They did.
8:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
I believe so, yes.
8:30 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Did the municipality have no power to evict people in a base camp that was supplying a three-week occupation?
8:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Again, from public records, I believe they did try.