Transport Canada had prepared instructions for moving Freedom Convoy trucks blocking Ottawa streets and border points across the country that did not require emergency measures, documents show. It seems that the plan was never put into practice.
Before towing an illegally parked truck in front of the federal parliament, the owner must be ordered to move it. This is what is proposed in the “vehicle removal and tow truck strategy” prepared by Transport Canada on February 13 and obtained by The duty.
“Towing the vehicle from the area to a safe place” is not the first, but the fourth step of the proposed operational strategy. The authorities must first try other avenues, such as “forcing the driver to move the vehicle”, or even “having the vehicle moved by another person”, indicates the document filed with the parliamentary committee on the monitoring of measures. emergency.
“In Windsor, several drivers moved their vehicles after the consequences were explained to them,” note Transport Canada officials.
Put blue collar workers to work
The plan consists of “incremental measures” intended to be attempted in order to move heavy weights. According to this strategy, it would have been easier to hire truck drivers or use municipal employees who hold the appropriate license than to use machinery to dismantle the Freedom Convoy.
Transport Canada also suggests that a list of government employees who hold these skills, including in the Canadian Armed Forces, be compiled. “Police escort and protection are required,” it says.
If the vehicle is not in a condition that allows it to be moved, such as if the tires have been removed, the plan calls for the use of a mechanic. In the worst case scenario, if it is not even possible to tow the vehicle, Transport Canada considers the option of pushing it out of the way. None of these steps require special emergency powers.
The Emergencies Act was invoked the day after this document was produced, on February 14. One of the special powers granted to the authorities was the forced hiring of towing companies. Many of them had so far refused to collaborate with the police to put an end to the motorized occupation in opposition to health measures against COVID-19.
Operators were finally requisitioned to remove the trucks from public roads after three weeks, during a vast 48-hour police operation which culminated on February 19. The towing companies had camouflaged their logo on the vehicles, and the employees wore balaclavas which made it impossible to identify them.
Fear for security
An organizer of the convoy told the To have to, a week earlier, that the Ottawa police had never asked her to clear the streets, and she had described them as “very cooperative”. It was only after the emergency measures were invoked that the authorities issued an ultimatum to the owners of the vehicles.
Out of fear for their safety, Ottawa parking officers had also waived fines for truckers located in the “red zone” near the legislature, City of Ottawa Chief Executive Steve Kanellakos confirmed. heard Monday before the Commission on the state of emergency.
Although the City of Ottawa has two heavy tow trucks to move its disabled buses, these were never used to tow trucks during the occupation. Its operators “feared for their safety”, according to Mr. Kanellakos. “You need to secure the area before towing. »
Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly has previously said his department has a plan to end the occupation that doesn’t require emergency measures, but more police. Federal documents also show that Alberta was able to call in tow trucks from the United States, without emergency powers, to unblock its Coutts border.
The Rouleau commission on the state of emergency began its second week of hearings on Monday. The public inquiry must determine whether it was justified for the federal government to invoke emergency measures last winter.
The commission’s lawyers notably presented to the Ottawa general manager an email received from the local hotel association which alerted the authorities, before the arrival of the demonstrators, of their intention to rent rooms to stay in the capital for a period over 30 days.