OTTAWA – The premier of Ontario refuses to appear before the commission of inquiry into emergency measures.
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The commission today summoned Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones to appear.
The Ford government has so far said it was not invited by the commissioners, but the commissioners instead indicate that Doug Ford and his team did not respond to their invitations, refusing to voluntarily cooperate, this for what they have no choice but to send him a summons to appear.
The Ford government immediately let it be known that it would challenge the summons in court. He argues that this is a police matter and that the police witnesses who testify are in the best position to provide the evidence the commission needs.
Last week, documents filed in evidence showed that Prime Minister Trudeau, who will appear voluntarily in the coming weeks, accused Doug Ford of “evading his responsibilities” in this crisis for “political reasons”.
From the first days of the investigation, Me Paul Champs, the lawyer for the coalition of citizens and merchants of Ottawa, pointed out that certain members of the Ford government were sympathetic to the demonstrators. Doug Ford’s own daughter, Krista Ford Haynes, openly anti-sanitary measures, participated in a portion of the convoy to Milton, Ont. She called it an “incredible experience”.
The federal pointed the finger
The commission is hearing today from Acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell, who replaced Chief Sloly at the height of the crisis in February.
During his questioning, a report from the Ottawa Police Intelligence Service, which he headed before his promotion, was presented. This document indicates that the federal government’s refusal to meet with representatives of the “freedom convoy” had the potential to add fuel to the fire.
“The federal government ignores the event. Historically, a refusal by leaders to listen to or heed a popular uprising, historically has made situations unmanageable,” reads an Ottawa City Police intelligence document filed into evidence today. to the Commission of Inquiry into Emergency Measures.
The report points out that, on the first weekend of the occupation, the only major organization that spoke about the event was the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and that it took until Monday before the Prime Minister mentions the demonstration in an “oblique” way. He then accused the Conservatives of fearmongering by linking vaccine requirements to supply chain disruptions, the document says.
“These conditions create the breeding ground for passionate emotions,” warns the author in bold in the text.
Summarizing the information collected, the author of the intelligence report warns that “it is likely that there is widespread disorganization and confusion”.
André Durocher, retired inspector from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), wonders whether there was a “political intervention” that would have pushed the police services not to act despite the information they received. had.
weapons seized
Mr. Bell defended himself by indicating that although they suggested a large crowd determined to stay for a long time, the intelligence data did not suggest that the demonstrators would be violent or not respect the laws.
Intelligence information available to his teams, however, indicated that some of the protesters had access to weapons and that weaponry had been seized from participants en route to Ottawa, according to documents entered into evidence today.
These documents indicate in particular that the Quebec police informed their colleagues in Ottawa that he had met a man who intended to go to the demonstration with a weapon, on January 29. The weapon was seized and its owner’s residence was searched, but no charges were laid. Another weapon seizure is noted, in Nova Scotia, within the eastern convoy en route to Ottawa.
The commission of inquiry must determine whether it was justified for the federal government to invoke the Emergency Measures Act to put an end to the crisis.
According to Mr. Bell, the use of this law allowed the police to mobilize the necessary tow trucks to move the trucks that were blocking the city center of the federal capital. It also made it possible to freeze the bank accounts of the participants to force them to break camp.