(OTTAWA) Security at the State of Emergency Commission has been stepped up for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s testimony on Friday. All members of the public and journalists attending the hearing were scrutinized by security officers. Their personal effects are sometimes searched worthy ofUnit 9.
The public inquiry led by Judge Paul Rouleau aims to determine whether the historic use of Emergency Measures Act to end the “freedom convoy” and blockades of border crossings elsewhere in the country was justified.
The Commission has heard from 75 witnesses so far, including Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chyrstia Freeland, who gave her story on Thursday. She said she was concerned that the United States would impose protectionist measures in response to the blocking of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, which would have had a domino effect on the Canadian economy.
She maintained that she views the impact of truck convoys on trade corridors as a threat to national security. The Emergency Measures Act rather, mentions espionage and sabotage, foreign interference, use of serious violence and activities aimed at overthrowing the government, and contains no mention of the economy.
Ministers, senior government officials and the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service maintained during their testimony that they had a broader interpretation of the concept of threat to national security.