The public inquiry commission that will examine the Trudeau government’s invocation of the Emergency Measures Act to put an end to the “freedom convoy” last winter will begin its work on September 19.
• Read also: Freedom Convoy: Poilievre’s Troublesome Support
The work of the Commission on the state of emergency should last just over a month, i.e. until October 28, 2022, while the final report should be delivered “at the latest” on February 6, 2023.
“The public hearings are vitally important to allow the Commission to gather the evidence it needs to develop its findings and recommendations,” said Commissioner Paul Rouleau, a judge of the Court of Appeal of the ‘Ontario.
The Emergency Measures Act was invoked between February 14 and 23 to dislodge anti-sanitary measures protesters who had occupied downtown Ottawa for just over three weeks.
It is a new version of the old War Measures Act. It was modified by the government of Brian Mulroney in 1988 because of its widely contested use during the October Crisis by Prime Minister Pierre-Elliott Trudeau.
The new law includes in itself the obligation for the government which uses these powers to set up an independent investigation with the objective of deciding whether or not the invocation of the law was justified.
Ottawa announced the establishment of the Commission on April 25.
At the public hearings, experts, members of the government and members of the public will be called upon to testify.
The commissionsurletatdurgence.ca website allows the public to understand and follow the work of the Commission.