(OTTAWA) The Ottawa resident who sought a court injunction to stop truckers from continuously honking their horns during the so-called freedom convoy demonstration in February will be among the first witnesses to speak at the public inquiry on Friday which examines the Government of Canada’s use of Emergency Measures Act.
Posted at 6:36 a.m.
Zexi Li launched a class action lawsuit against the organizers of the convoy on February 3 and an Ontario court granted him an injunction four days later to stop using the horns.
A week later, on February 14, the Liberal government invoked the Emergency Measures Act for the first time as protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and blockades blocked border crossings and occupied the streets of downtown Ottawa. Use of the law temporarily granted police extraordinary powers and allowed banks to freeze accounts, which the government said was essential to ending the protests.
The Emergency Public Order Commission is examining the effect of the protests on Ottawa residents as well as communications between city councillors, police and other government officials.
Catherine McKenney, currently running for mayor of Ottawa, will be joined by fellow city councilor Mathieu Fleury as witnesses on Friday. Both represented neighborhoods heavily affected by the convoy.
Mr Fleury said he received threats, including an incident in which people in vans came to his house and shouted at him. “In the end, we moved and reported the incident,” he added, noting that he had a young family.
Ottawa City Manager Steve Kanellakos’ testimony is expected to include details of the role he played in trying to broker an end to the protests.
The Emergency Measures Act requires that a public inquiry be held to examine the circumstances surrounding the decision to use it. Public hearings are scheduled to continue until November 25.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seven federal ministers and organizers of the freedom convoy are scheduled to appear in the coming weeks.