Parliamentary Committee Notes: Follow-up from RCMP FINA appearance of March 7, 2022, regarding Occupation Funding, Frozen Accounts and RCMP Recommendations Moving Forward

Study:

Invocation of the Emergencies Act and related measures

Appearance Date: March 7, 2022

Question 1

(1645)

Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie:

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Beaudoin, I'm going to stay on the topic of cryptoassets. You said earlier that protesters received support in the form of bitcoin—a cryptoasset—to the tune of more than one million dollars Canadian.

Were you the one who followed the money that funded the occupation in Ottawa? If so, did those cryptoassets come mainly from Canada or foreign countries?

Supt Denis Beaudoin:

Staff examined the source of the funds, but I don't have that information with me.

Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie:

If you could get back to us with that information, I would certainly appreciate it.

Response

As there is an ongoing criminal investigation and civil lawsuits, the RCMP is not able to provide any information about the source of the crypto-asset funds at this time.

The RCMP is committed to participating in the mandated reviews of the declaration of the Emergencies Act and to ensuring an authoritative common understanding of how the Act was utilized is available. 

Question 2

(1650)

Hon. Ed Fast:

Mr. Arcand, I understand you testified that the freezing of accounts under the Emergencies Act was intended to encourage the influencers and the leaders of the protest to stand down. How many of the key leaders and influencers of the protest actually did stand down as a result of the banks freezing their accounts or the threat of their accounts being frozen?

A/Commr Michel Arcand:

To answer your question directly, I don't have the specific numbers. The initial number that was provided to the banks on entities that we know were influencers, which came directly from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ottawa Police Service, was approximately 14 or 15.

As for how many left, I don't have those numbers.

Hon. Ed Fast:

Could I have you provide the committee with that information? It is critical because it goes to the very efficacy of the powers that were exercised under the Emergencies Act. What we want to know is whether the Emergencies Act actually achieved what it was intended to, which was to get the influencers and the leaders to back down.

Response

The additional powers allowed under the Emergency Measures Economic Order played a role in resolving an unprecedented, urgent, and rapidly evolving situation. In particular, the information the RCMP provided to financial service providers helped incentivize many involved in the blockade of downtown Ottawa to leave peacefully. This minimized the risk of a violent end to the blockades by depriving those engaged in prohibited activities of an access to funds.

The RCMP is currently collating information related to the invocation of the Emergencies Act and the events that led up to it. At this time, we have no additional data or information to share. 

Question 3

(1725)

Ms. Julie Dzerowicz:

In my final 30 seconds, now that we've enacted and revoked the Emergencies Act—this is along the lines of Mr. Blaikie's questioning—if you had to make some recommendations, what have we learned that you might add to your...?

If you were consulted again, would you have added something, or would you have left it exactly as in your recommendations to our government around the Emergencies Act and the measures that you needed to bring things under control?

A/Commr Michel Arcand:

It's hard to pinpoint exactly where we could have improved. One area of improvement, as explained by Superintendent Denis Beaudoin, is to have more precision on how we could freeze accounts and how we were going to be acting if it were for a longer period. There could probably be more guidance for the financial institutions.

To go back to exactly what area we we need to adjust, we will take some time to reflect on this and come back.

Response

An initial takeaway on what could have been improved was identified by Superintendent Beaudoin during the March 7 appearance. The RCMP would have benefited from more precise guidance on the freezing of accounts and detailed direction had the situation unfolded for a longer period. Conversely, greater guidance for financial institutions would have also been helpful.

The RCMP has begun to proactively identify and address lessons learned from the invocation of the Emergencies Act and the events that led to it. As part of this, efforts are underway to collect information and conduct a thorough analysis.

The RCMP is committed to participating in the mandated reviews of the declaration of the Emergencies Act and to ensuring an authoritative common understanding of how the Act was utilized is available.

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