Declaration of Emergency committee  I'd like to come back to Mrs. Romanado's motion. It looks like a closure motion. The motion says that we are inviting officials from the Privy Council Office and the translation bureau to explain to us what happened on the translation side. Ministers Virani and Leblanc are also invited to speak for an hour and a half.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Especially for the new members, who weren't there, I think it would be good to recall what happened, particularly on September 22, 2022. We wanted to call a number of witnesses, including the Prime Minister. In its wisdom, the committee said that this would double the work.

Declaration of Emergency committee  It's about apologizing.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I imagine! Obviously, there has to be some action by the state or the government. However, people have said that because they were not the ones who seized the accounts, it was the banks, this was not a search or seizure. What do you think of that argument? Does it have the same effect on you as on me?

Declaration of Emergency committee  I'm finished.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Watson, I want to continue on the matter of the mediator, Mr. French, who was asked to do something. According to the media, you told the Rouleau commission that certain municipal councillors had wanted to bring in a mediator and that they had even prepared a draft resolution to submit to city council.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Sloly, on February 12, the Ottawa Police Service website said there was a plan to clear Wellington Street. Was that plan devised by your organization?

Declaration of Emergency committee  All right.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is for Mr. Brookson. Did you have any discussions with the Ottawa Police Service and the RCMP before and after the convoy arrived?

Declaration of Emergency committee  I will propose the amendment suggested by Mr. Motz, which would require members to submit their questions within three weeks after the witnesses appeared, rather than within three weeks after the adoption of the motion. I would like to suggest a further amendment, namely, to replace “three weeks” with “seven days”.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I want to be sure that the public has access to the meeting webcast. I'm in contact with people who work with me, and they seem to be having trouble accessing the webcast. I want to make sure that the meeting is public.

Declaration of Emergency committee  ...1,550 fines had already been issued and 25 arrests made.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Minister, you spoke with the Ottawa police chief on all the matters that you've presented here, but you never held a discussion about his plan to clear downtown Ottawa. That's unbelievable! I have trouble believing you. You reaffirmed that you didn't have any discussions with representatives of the Ottawa police service about its plan to clear Wellington Street.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Yes, but you had a decision to make as the minister…

Declaration of Emergency committee  I wasn't asking whether direction had to be given to the Ottawa Police Service, but rather whether they had a plan to clear downtown Ottawa. If you had asked, you would have been told by the Ottawa Police Service that they indeed had a plan to clear the downtown area and that you had nothing to worry about.