Declaration of Emergency committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Minister, your colleague from the Department of Public Safety told us that he had invoked the Emergencies Act on the advice of the law enforcement agencies. Were you there? Did you hear advice from the police? Did you hear representatives from the police requesting that the Emergencies Act be used?

Declaration of Emergency committee  It was because of the tow trucks. It's all about the tow trucks. The police were unable to tow the vehicles away. Is that correct?

Declaration of Emergency committee  In what way did the Emergencies Act facilitate the towing of the vehicles that were in Ottawa? What additional power in the Emergencies Act or in the order made it possible for the law enforcement agencies to tow the vehicles? Under the current legislation, a police officer may, without calling upon the Emergencies Act, require tow truck drivers to do their work.

Declaration of Emergency committee  If you don't know whether the police, the law enforcement agencies, advised the use of the Emergencies Act, do you know who advised the government to do so?

Declaration of Emergency committee  I heard that. I got it.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Was it you who had the idea of invoking the Emergencies Act?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Was it you who had the idea of invoking the Emergencies Act?

Declaration of Emergency committee  I understand that. I've sat in cabinet as well.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Minister, you said you didn't know if the police had advised invoking the Emergencies Act, that no one ever told you. You made a decision without requesting the opinion or advice of the police.

Declaration of Emergency committee  I know how it works because I've sat in cabinet. You made a decision and you voted on it. You decided to invoke the Emergencies Act without knowing the police's position on that decision.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Your apologies should be directed to the public, not to me.

Declaration of Emergency committee  Ms. Freeland, the Minister of Public Security told us that the government invoked the Emergencies Act on the advice of the police. Is that true?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Did the Minister of Public Security inform you that the police had suggested invoking the Emergencies Act?

Declaration of Emergency committee  As I understand it, you don't remember the Minister of Public Security telling you that the police had asked you to invoke the Emergencies Act. Is that correct?

Declaration of Emergency committee  Yes, but there's always someone who has the brilliant idea, who pulls the rabbit out of a hat and says, “We should do this.” Who pulled it out first?