Parliamentary Committee Notes: DM Draft Remarks
Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency
June 7, 2022
Thank you for having me here today.
I am here to provide support to your study of the public order emergency we faced last Winter, and the role of the Emergencies Act in bringing it to a peaceful conclusion.
My presentation will focus on my role as the Deputy Minister of Public Safety in the following three areas:
First, I will address our understanding of the nature of the threats leading to the invocation of the Emergencies Act; Second: How the Emergencies Act facilitated Law Enforcement actions; and Finally, the role we played in the Communication and coordination with PTMs.
The public emergency in January and February 2022 was rooted in a growing movement centered on anti-government sentiments related to the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At that time, participants in protests and blockades in the nation’s capital and at strategic ports of entry adopted tactics that disrupted the peace, impacted the Canadian economy, and engendered national security risks.
This included aggressive protest tactics, threatening behaviour and slowing down traffic and creating traffic jams, in particular near ports of entry. The freedom and well-being of citizens was negatively impacted and businesses were forced to close, either due to safety concerns or due to the disruption in the flow of goods and services through blocked ports of entry.
We also observed that convoys of large trucks, which were growing in terms of both size and number, were manifesting unpredictably around the country.
In many locations, the protests moved beyond a peaceful threshold, and became illegal, giving rise to a volatile and unpredictable environment at the protest sites with an assessed potential to mobilize to violence.
Broadly speaking, and crucially, information about what was happening within protest groups was not easy to obtain. While CSIS did not identify specific IMVE threats, we were aware that some extremist supporters were seeking to link their causes to these protests.
CSIS does not investigate lawful advocacy, protest or dissent, except when it is carried out in conjunction with activities that constitute a threat to the security of Canada. Assessments produced by the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre on Ideologically Motivated Extremism and Violence helped inform our understanding of the complex and evolving nature of the threat environment – one that was spurred by misinformation and harmful rhetoric. It also pointed to the potential for lone actors to find an opportunity within protests; an environment in which determined, disaffected individuals could cause harm in a very short amount of time.
Moreover there were concerns that police action could face stiff and determined opposition, potentially leading to even greater unrest and instability.
The reasons for issuing the declaration of a public order emergency were set in the public document of explanation pursuant subsection 58 (1) of the Emergencies Act. Furthermore, the Houses of Parliament were provided with the consultations document. These documents highlight that between the end of January and February 14th, the escalation of the threat across the country has been regularly communicated by PTs and POJs to the Federal Government. They requested the Federal Government’s action in supporting PoJs to address the threat.
Officials from PS including myself engaged with PTMs partners on multiple occasions on topics ranging from additional support for law enforcement to reduce illegal crowd gathering, to increase powers to manage the convoys, including infractions, fines, enforcement regimes, towing trucks and possible deployment of additional RCMP material and human resources.
It was within this environment that the Emergencies Act was invoked in mid-February.
The Act provided tools bolster law enforcement powers such as access to tow trucks, to end the blockades. The Act also provided tools to deter continuing illegal protests and restore public order, such as the prohibition on public assembly, and economic measures on convoy funding.
Within the Federal Government, Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Services, the Canada Border Services Agency, Justice Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Transport Canada all played roles.
Throughout the three weeks of this crisis, we communicated and coordinated closely with other partners.
Collaboration with provincial and territorial counterparts took place through an already-established ADM-level FPT committee, the Crime Prevention and Policing Committee, as well as through conversations I had with my provincial DM counterparts.
In addition, as Deputy Minister, I engaged with the City of Ottawa Manager, the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ottawa Police Service leaders and provincial Deputy Minister counterparts, in conjunction with other federal DMs.
In conclusion, the Emergences Act was invoked in a volatile environment with potential risks to national security across Canada, taking into account the view and advice of many stakeholders.
I look forward to your questions.
Thank you.
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