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Police didn’t anticipate Emergencies Act use to end convoy blockades: RCMP chief – Global News
Police had not anticipated the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act to end the “illegal blockades” in the nation’s capital and major border crossings, the RCMP chief said Tuesday.
Speaking virtually at a meeting of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki deflected questions from committee members about the need to impose the extraordinary measures to quash the blockades by the so-called “Freedom Convoy.”
When asked by Ontario Sen. Peter Harder if the RCMP was assuming the invocation of the emergency measures in its plan, Lucki replied: “Not at all.”
“This was a very, very unique and fluid situation in Ottawa,” she said, adding that there had been various discussions with government officials in the week prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14.
“We’re not in the position to … provide influence on the government as to when and where they invoke a certain act. For us, it was about keeping Canadians safe in Ottawa.”
Lucki said RCMP removed the blockades at the border without the powers offered under the legislation, though the Emergencies Act may have motivated some protesters to leave.
“In RCMP jurisdiction, we successfully used a measured approach and existing legislation to resolve border blockades,” Lucki told the committee.
She also said the RCMP had not asked the federal government to implement the extraordinary measures.
“There was never a question of requesting the Emergencies Act,” Lucki said in response to a question from Ontario Sen. Vernon White.
Also when asked by Conservative MPs if the act’s invocation was necessary and whether the blockades could not be resolved with any other existing law in the country, Lucki said she couldn’t answer whether the threshold was met.
“That’s not for me to comment on,” she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the never-before-used Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 in an effort to end blockades that had taken over the streets of the capital and major border crossings in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. in protest of COVID-19 restrictions, vaccine mandates and the Liberal government.
The Act was revoked after 10 days that saw police crack down to clear out hundreds of demonstrators who had encamped in the nation’s capital for three weeks.
The Liberal government has repeatedly justified the use of the Emergencies Act, but Trudeau billed the decision as one that should never be a first resort.
At the time, Trudeau pointed to the economic impact to Canada’s trade at the border as one of the justifications for invoking the Act.
However, a Global News analysis of data from Statistics Canada revealed that the border blockades had little effect on trade.
The Emergencies Act invocation has come under scrutiny, with opposition MPs criticizing the move and the way the legislation was implemented.
Speaking during Question Period on Monday, Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen accused the Liberal government of wrongly invoking the Emergencies Act and “trying to cover it up.”
The Liberals said in response that they have been “transparent” about their reasons for invoking the act, but the Conservative leader remained unconvinced.
“’Just trust us’ is not enough,” she said.
Last month, at a meeting of the same committee tasked with studying how the Emergencies Act powers were used, federal ministers provided few details.
Justice Minister David Lametti repeatedly invoked cabinet confidentiality in his appearance.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said the government received advice to invoke the Emergencies Act, but did not answer questions about exactly who gave that advice.
— with files from The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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The Cavalier Religious Right Wing with its ambitious political support(Republicans in America and Conservatives in Canada) is busy at work in front of our legislatures, City Halls, and City Parks promoting their firebrand anti-this and anti-that. In the name of the children(teachers union call sign) this umbrella organization of disgruntled populists, foot soldiers of ideologies and faiths of the past, present themselves as concerned parents, protectors of righteous education, and a building block towards a socio-religious bulwark against societal confusion. The religious right believes society has moved away from the historically accepted status quo, where man and woman are seen as easy examples of God’s design. Talk of Genders, trans-gender washrooms, the right to reveal your true self, and even self-expression itself is seen as attacks upon faith-built communities, the North America of the past, and even upon God (Himself).
Some progressive groups counterprotest these ever-growing pressure groups, attempting to protect the rights, granted and fought for by The LGBTQ+ Community Emotions are high, as these entrenched yet powerful movements, one of religion vs. Individual expressed rights take the field in many communities across this continent. Book burning in America along with commonplace censorship of books and even teachers who do not meet their expectations, pressuring legislatures or parliament alike with donations and even threats to unseat present-day politicians and replace them with elected officials that support the right.
This umbrella group comprises many conservative faiths, where Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims seem to have buried their competitive hatchet to face down their progressive opponents. Politicians cannot ignore this group, for fear of elections lost, or revenue reserves depleted by this group’s efforts. Mothers, parents, pastors, mullahs, priests, rabbis, and others standing in place representing their God, and their faith, perhaps viewed as closed-minded, but nonetheless determined in their Sacred Books Revelations. Power found within their faith, perhaps tunnel-visioned, but righteous in the world eye’s, just as their efforts against abortion show. An understanding of the different disallowed, or seen as wrongful perversion. The struggle between two essential absolutes, one struggling to get closer to their God, the other to their true human meaning, struggles to see what cannot be fully seen, only felt emotionally and physically. To be true to one’s self, instead of an outer presence.
These events can lead to the toppling of governments, politicians’ careers, and the transformation of social domestic policy. Religiosity and sexual-transitional rights are democratically challenging. The two solitudes are famously uncooperative with each other or democratic agencies. How do you work with two opposites who believe themselves to be right in their efforts and determination to change the direction of society and human affairs?
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
skaszab@yahoo.ca
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