Although the Canadian Intelligence and Security Service (CSIS) had not deemed the Freedom Convoy sufficiently threatening to the security of Canada to investigate it, its big boss recommended that Justin Trudeau invoke the measures of urgency to dislodge him, he told the Rouleau commission.
CSIS Director David Vigneault “advised the Prime Minister of his belief that it was indeed necessary to invoke the Act,” reads his pre-interview with Commission counsel, released Monday.
Yet the federal intelligence agency has never believed that the Freedom Convoy posed a threat to the security of Canada. “CSIS was not investigating the Convoy,” confirmed Mr. Vigneault unequivocally on Monday.
“Every day, we conducted surveys to verify our assessment,” said its deputy director, Michelle Tessier.
Wider threat
The director of CSIS explained to the commission that his understanding of the Emergencies Act was that a threat to the security of Canada should be understood in a “broader” sense than the CSIS Act. He also based his opinion on the need for the emergency, on February 13, on the basis of “what he has seen so far” within the Convoy.
Federal Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino said police forces had asked him to invoke the Emergencies Act, which neither municipal police nor provincial police did. Ontario, nor the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The vast protest movement occupied the streets of Ottawa for three weeks in addition to inspiring various blockades of border crossings. He is blamed for various violent or threatening acts, but CSIS did not identify any “planned violence”.
Legal basis
The Emergencies Act was invoked on February 14. His action was justified by a threat to the security of Canada, the definition of which is included in section 2(c) of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Act. In context, this is limited to “the use of serious violence or threats of violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objective”.
The prime minister’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, admitted on Thursday that she did not limit herself to this legal definition. According to her, the economic impacts, the violent speeches and the entrenchment created by the trucks posed a serious enough threat to pass the test.
Seven Trudeau government ministers and the Prime Minister himself will appear this week before Commissioner Paul Rouleau, who must determine by February 20 whether or not to invoke emergency measures.
More details will follow.