The Public Order Emergency Commission’s public hearings into the federal authorities’s use of the Emergencies Act final winter kicked off on Oct. 13 with introductory remarks from varied events who’ve been granted standing within the proceedings, permitting all sides to basically make their opening arguments.
From federal officers outlining why they suppose the nationwide inquiry into the federal government’s invocation of unprecedented powers via the Emergencies Act will conclude that its use was warranted, to legal professionals for the central ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest organizers arguing that the federal government exceeded its jurisdiction, listed here are the important thing positions introduced on day one by central gamers within the fee:
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
“It is necessary for Canadians to grasp the unprecedented vital state of affairs that the nation was going through earlier this yr. The proof will present that the invocation of the Emergencies Act was an affordable and obligatory resolution given the escalating unstable and pressing circumstances throughout the nation… Government witnesses will define the deliberate step-by-step course of wherein cautious consideration was given to all of the out there choices which led to the declaration of a public order emergency as a matter of final resort,” said Robert MacKinnon, who is without doubt one of the legal professionals representing the federal authorities.
CONVOY ORGANIZERS
“It is our view that there was no justification by any means to invoke the Emergencies Act. The Emergencies Act requires a number of issues. One, it may very well be invoked resulting from espionage and sabotage. Are you going to listen to any proof about espionage and sabotage? The reply to that’s no. It may very well be invoked on the premise of clandestine or misleading overseas affect, or overseas affect that includes a menace to an individual. Are you going to listen to proof about that? The reply to that’s no. It additionally could be invoked on the premise of threats or use of acts of significant violence towards individuals or property. Are you going to listen to proof of violence towards individuals or property? The reply’s no. Lastly, it may also be invoked if there’s a group or individuals attempting to destroy or overthrow by violence, the system of presidency of Canada. Are you going to listen to proof about people attempting to try this? The reply isn’t any,” said Brendan Miller, one of many legal professionals representing the convoy organizers.
PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATIVES
“Saskatchewan’s place is that the federal authorities had already decided {that a} nationwide emergency could be declared, earlier than the First Ministers name on February 14. The name was not a lot about consulting because it was about telling… The authorities is worried that residents’ rights could have been unnecessarily infringed by these measures,” said Michael Morris, one of many legal professionals representing the Saskatchewan authorities.
“Alberta believes it is very important share with Canadians the details about how Alberta was capable of successfully cope with the worldwide border blockade in Coutts, Alta., previous to the invocation of the federal Emergencies Act. Alberta’s proof will present that the present legislation enforcement instruments that have been already in place have been utterly enough and so they have been efficiently used… None of the powers that have been created underneath the federal Emergencies Act have been obligatory, nor have been any of them utilized in Alberta,” said Mandy England, one of many legal professionals representing the Alberta authorities.
CITY OF OTTAWA, RESIDENTS
“The affect on Ottawa for these three weeks of harassment, road blockages, ear-splitting air and practice horns, and basic lawlessness, was unprecedented… Many folks in Ottawa felt like they have been prisoners in their very own dwelling, and so they felt deserted, and so they felt unsafe by the police and by all the degrees of presidency… Make no mistake: It was a disaster in downtown Ottawa. There was dysfunction. There was chaos. There have been propane tanks, gasoline, jerry cans in all places. There have been fireworks going off in any respect hours of the evening… There was no public companies, paramedics, ambulances, no buses, no taxis… companies have been closed… The folks in Ottawa are nonetheless traumatized, commissioner,” said lawyer Paul Champ, who’s representing the Ottawa Coalition of Residents and Businesses.
“The first convoy individuals arrived in Ottawa not far in any respect truly from the place we sit as we speak, on Jan. 28, and so they remained in our metropolis for roughly three weeks. I anticipate you’ll hear from witnesses in regards to the important impacts on town’s residents and companies. And additionally, you will hear in regards to the metropolis’s efforts to assist the police-led response to the convoy and to mitigate impacts on metropolis companies,” said City of Ottawa authorized consultant Anne Tardif.
OTTAWA POLICE
“There is a well-established course of you’ll hear, that the Ottawa Police Service follows when protests happen… The Ottawa police, you’ll hear, adopted that well-established course of that had at all times labored with protesters this time as properly, and have been ready for an occasion. But, not for the occasion that occurred. Why? What you’ll hear is that this protest was distinctive in Canadian historical past. The police had little time to arrange… None of the intelligence predicted within the very transient time frame previous to the convoy’s arrival was the extent of neighborhood violence and social trauma that was inflicted upon town and its residents,” said lawyer David Migicovsky, who’s representing the Ottawa Police Service.
“The City of Ottawa was floor zero for the protests that occurred… And chief Sloly will help you in understanding the challenges confronted by the Ottawa police service in addressing the evolving unlawful occupation. As he’ll clarify, the occasions signify a paradigm shift in public protests. In specific, he’ll clarify to you the restricted sources out there to the Ottawa police service to cope with a large occupation, the restricted nature of the intelligence out there to OPS about what was coming Ottawa’s manner, the significance of the correct of lawful protests in our democracy, and the bounds of authority of the Ottawa Police Service to cope with protesters,” said former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly’s illustration, Tom Curry.
CIVIL LIBERTY, CONSTITUTIONAL ADVOCATES
“For 34 years the Emergencies Act was by no means used. The public order emergency of 2022 was a historic first, however now that the glass has been damaged on the act, it may be used once more. The act was utilized by this authorities towards people protesting vaccine mandates. But, a future authorities of a special political stripe might use the act in response to protests towards pipelines or local weather change. When the fee asks arduous questions in regards to the act’s use in 2022, the fee should additionally focus on the act’s potential misuse sooner or later and shield the correct to protest parliamentary democracy and federalism. What the fee says issues not simply to Canada, however globally the place using emergency powers is on the rise. The world will likely be watching our work,” said Canadian Constitution Foundation consultant co-council Sujit Choudhry.
“There are many points that the fee will likely be analyzing that are central to CCLA’s work, together with: the lawful scope of the correct to protest, the position of police in facilitating protests whereas defending public metropolis, the connection between policing authorities, civilian oversight our bodies, and authorities actors, and the surveillance of these concerned in dissenting social actions… The CCLA views the fee that’s an instrumental a part of attaining the targets of transparency and accountability,” said the Canadian Civil Liberties Association consultant Cara Zwibel.