Declaration of Emergency committee  Exactly. I think the police, being used to managing protests in this city, thought they had a plan that would manage this situation. The magnitude of the situation and the number of trucks, and how entrenched they became very quickly in the city, were underestimated and a consequential issue.

Declaration of Emergency committee  It was, as I've said, the number of blockades, the number of people who were coming to join the Ottawa blockade and occupation, the concern about weapons, the rhetoric, the IMVE actors who were in the mix and the connection between all of those entities. Yes, that's the totality of it.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I can't speak for the CSIS director, but as a senior deputy minister in the national security community, yes, I believe that is the perspective he had.

Declaration of Emergency committee  It was in excess of $20 million. The exact number, I think, was revealed during the inquiry.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you for the question. We knew it was in excess of $10 million.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you very much for that question. I think you've raised some very important points. Number one, tow trucks were a problem in multiple locations. Tow truck drivers were either intimidated or, we've learned, paid not to participate and not to provide service. We looked as far as Montreal to get tow truck drivers to come to Ottawa, as but one example.

Declaration of Emergency committee  It's an Ontario act, and Ontario did not compel the tow truck drivers. We used the federal act to do that. There were many opportunities—

Declaration of Emergency committee  I thank you very much for the question. No, I don't agree with that.

Declaration of Emergency committee  What I meant by that is that the 2(c) national security definition is not a one-for-one translation into the Emergencies Act. It is assigned meaning from the CSIS Act, as opposed to it must be determined by CSIS. Section 16 of the Emergencies Act requires a broad interpretation and allows for broad consideration, as the Governor in Council has that responsibility.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Yes, you're correct. CSIS is an intelligence agency. They collect intelligence and 2(c) allows them to collect intelligence. It doesn't allow us to necessarily act and it doesn't mean that there will be a police action as a result of 2(c). The broad interpretation, the context, the national nature, the amount of time that this had been going on and the dire concerns coming out of Coutts led to the action taken.

Declaration of Emergency committee  The information and the intelligence is provided through the PCO, not through the PMO, just as a clarification. Yes, it is frank, open and transparent information.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Yes, and thank you for the question. This has been a subject of significant discussion. It certainly has come up in these hearings, and it came up at the inquiry last week. Legal advice has been provided. I know that both the deputy minister of justice and the Minister of Justice have both been here.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you very much for the question. The Department of Justice wrote the legal opinion. They write the legal opinions for government. The paragraph 2(c) question is significant. The interpretation of paragraph 2(c) and the Emergencies Act is that the national security description and the parameters are assigned the meaning per paragraph 2(c) of the CSIS Act, as opposed to derived directly from.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you for the question. It did align with the letter of the law, as interpreted. Yes, cabinet was thoroughly briefed.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'll make very short introductory remarks. I am here with three colleagues who have been introduced, so I won't go through that with you. I assumed the role of national security and intelligence adviser on January 11, 2022. It is a position designed to provide coordinated, non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister through the Clerk of the Privy Council.