Declaration of Emergency committee  You can try to squeeze water from a stone, but you have to keep hitting it.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I agree with that. People organized a barbecue in the middle of the street and even installed a hot tub. However, under section 134.1 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, a police officer may order the removal of a vehicle that's blocking traffic. Couldn't one of the many police officers there try to order the removal of a vehicle or bring in a tow truck to do it, as had already been done?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Minister, I found tow trucks for sale in Auto Hebdo magazine. You could have bought some and had the trucks removed yourselves without invoking the Emergencies Act. Ontario's Highway Traffic Act gives police officers authority to enter a vehicle, take its keys and have it towed and moved somewhere else.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Minister, I'm still trying to understand how you invoked the Emergencies Act. You seem to be convinced of what you say, but I think you're having us on. Here's my first question. Are you familiar with section 134.1 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act? Has it been brought to your attention?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Has anyone in your office, an adviser perhaps, mentioned section 134.1 of Ontario's Highway Traffic Act?

Declaration of Emergency committee  The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge was cleared before you invoked the Emergencies Act. That wasn't the first blockade of a train or highway in Canada. We've always managed to clear blockades using injunctions and measures taken by municipalities, provinces and the federal government.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Mr. Chair, I simply want to thank Mr. Beatty for all of the wisdom he has imparted to us today. The government needs him. Had he been a minister in the current cabinet, I don't think the Emergencies Act would have been invoked.

Declaration of Emergency committee  When seven provinces state that they did not need emergency powers because they had sufficient powers, how can the declaration of a public order emergency in all provinces and territories be warranted?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Which body do you think the Governor in Council should task with the inquiry?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to repeat the question I asked you earlier, but this time, you'll have a chance to answer. The government has the power to arrest people, to ticket people for parking their vehicles in the street and to seek court injunctions to move vehicles. On top of that, mayors have the authority to declare a state of emergency in their cities and to take all necessary measures to deal with the problem and restore order.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Again, I would think you were surprised to see that happen. As a lawmaker sponsoring a bill like this one, you mustn't have anticipated that it would be invoked in your lifetime. I imagine you were a bit surprised that the government invoked the Emergencies Act to exercise powers such as compelling the towing of vehicles parked on Wellington Street.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Ontario's Highway Traffic Act gives a peace officer the power to order a vehicle to be towed. Furthermore, the mayor of Ottawa has the power to declare a state of emergency, giving the city the authority to take all measures necessary to deal with the situation. Court injunctions can also be sought to give police the authority to move vehicles or to arrest people for breaking the law or for contempt of court.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Beatty, we've all read your previous public statements on this issue. I imagine you did the same to help you refresh your memory. On November 16, 1987, you gave a speech in the House of Commons, at second reading of the bill. Here is part of what you said: Unlike the War Measures Act, part II of Bill C‑77 confers no new powers relating to search, seizure, arrest or detention.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Let's just say that the process wouldn't have the desired institutional independence or that the person might have an economic relationship that would make it hard for them to satisfy that requirement.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Have resources been set aside to conduct the inquiry? It's one thing to ask someone to conduct an inquiry, but they need resources to look into the matter and determine whether the decisions that were made were the right ones.