OTTAWA –
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he is involved the RCMP selected to not the discharge the badge numbers of officers who cleared “Freedom Convoy” protesters from the Ambassador Bridge final winter.
The RCMP denied an access-to-information request for officers’ names and badge numbers on the premise releasing the data may put officers’ security in danger.
The Canadian Press obtained a briefing word to Commissioner Brenda Lucki on the matter, which included an intelligence report exhibiting that senior Mounties feared officers could possibly be doxed by convoy supporters in the event that they had been recognized. She was requested to approve the choice as a result of it raised questions round transparency.
“I’m very involved by that report,” Mendicino stated in a current interview whereas visiting Saskatchewanto focus on policing on First Nations.
“Obviously, badges and names are there within the curiosity of transparency, and we’ll have extra to say about that.”
Mendicino stated the matter underlines the significance of presidency laws tabled final spring, which he says would supply extra sturdy civilian oversight of the RCMP.
Protesters decrying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal authorities’s COVID-19 well being mandates had blockaded the Ambassador Bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, Michigan for six days in February.
It reopened after police cleared demonstrators Feb. 13, laying greater than 40 expenses, the weekend earlier than the federal authorities invoked the Emergencies Act.
In the word to Lucki dated final April, the RCMP flagged that leaders of the pressure in Ontario had been amongst these to boost issues about releasing the names and badge numbers of the officers concerned.
“Given the present risk setting, this is able to pose a danger to the security of personnel, however can be an instance of the RCMP’s dedication to transparency,” it learn.
“Mitigation measures to guard affected members and their households would should be undertaken previous to the discharge.”
Included within the briefing doc to Lucki was an evaluation RCMP ready containing some feedback it stated had been shared in a gaggle for convoy members on Telegram, an on the spot messaging app.
In one message, a consumer wrote: “These pigs need to die.”
The pressure additionally stated that some RCMP members reported receiving loss of life threats, together with in opposition to their households, after their names and cellphone numbers had been leaked on social media. The private info had initially been shared in an RCMP Musical Ride group chat.
The pressure appeared to acknowledge that withholding the badge numbers of officers may elevate questions round transparency, and within the word to Lucki stated the state of affairs “introduced an distinctive case” involving clear, credible threats.
The choice to disclaim the request for officer info wouldn’t replicate a change in coverage underneath the entry regulation, it stated.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 18, 2022.