Category: freedom convoy

Feds Not to Blame for Lower Credit Scores After It Ordered Accounts Frozen, Says Deputy Minister of Finance

The deputy minister of finance told the Emergencies Act inquiry on Nov. 17 that the federal government was not responsible for lower credit scores experienced by Freedom Convoy protesters whose financial accounts were frozen without a court order during the events of last winter. “I think that’s an issue for the financial institutions and how…


Convoy-Related Protests Were Not a National Security Threat, Says RCMP Commissioner

The cross-country protests and blockades of last winter demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions were not a national security threat, according to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. “There was some snippets of information on open source, and that came through intelligence—things that were similar to the storming of the Parliament—but none of it manifested itself, so…


RCMP Commissioner Says She Received No Political Pressure to Deal With Freedom Convoy

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told the Public Order Emergency Commission on Nov. 15 that she received no pressure from politicians or senior officials to take action to deal with the Freedom Convoy protest of last winter. “Absolutely not. I didn’t feel the pressure from our point of view because we weren’t the police of jurisdiction,…


CSIS Director Says Convoy Protests Were at No Point Deemed a National Security Threat Under the Law

The director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) will testify at the Emergencies Act inquiry in the coming weeks that his agency did not consider the anti-COVID-19 restrictions’ protests of last winter a national security threat under the legislation that established the agency, according to a summary of his interview conducted earlier with the…


Alberta Purchased Tow Trucks for Coutts Border Protest Before Emergencies Act Invoked: Documents

After difficulty getting tow truck companies to agree to tow rigs at the Coutts border protest in February 2022, the Alberta government ultimately bought towing equipment from Kijiji and the Truck Trader, according to documents. The provincial government ultimately bought $826,000 worth of equipment after various Alberta companies with towing or crane equipment were contacted by…


Trudeau Feared an ‘Armed Insurrection,’ Said Freedom Convoy Wouldn’t Be Resolved by ‘Talking’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected early on the idea of negotiating with the trucker-led Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa and he feared an “armed insurrection,” according to handwritten notes from his deputy chief of staff. “PM: No. No to changing government policy. Their goal is to disrupt and undermine govt institutions,” read the notes of…


Freedom Convoy Posed No ‘Overriding Public Safety Concerns,’ Says Ontario Deputy Solicitor General

The deputy solicitor general for Ontario told the Emergencies Act inquiry on Thursday that the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa last winter did not pose a significant public safety risk. “I was getting consistent messaging from Commissioner Carrique and from Deputy Minister Stewart that there were not any overriding public safety concerns,” said Mario Di…


Police Say Union Executive Threatened to Lead 1,000 Members to Brawl With Windsor Protesters

An executive from Canada’s largest private sector union threatened to lead 1,000 autoworkers to brawl with protesters at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor last winter, the Public Order Emergency Commission heard on Nov. 8. “PLT [Provincial Liaison Team] update,” read a Feb. 11 note submitted as evidence before the Commission. “President of autoworkers union looking…


Mendicino Deputy Said Politicians Were ‘Politically Vulnerable’ During Convoy Protest: Ontario Top Official

The deputy solicitor general for Ontario says he was told by the federal deputy minister of public safety that the Freedom Convoy protest of last winter in Ottawa had made politicians vulnerable. The handwritten notes from Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario’s deputy solicitor general, were entered as evidence at the Emergencies Act inquiry on Nov. 9….


Legal Memo Advised Ottawa Police to Be Aware of Indigenous Protesters During Convoy

In a confidential memo between legal counsel for the Ottawa Police Service and deputy chief Steve Bell, lawyers advised that police should take extra care with Freedom Convoy demonstrators who may be indigenous. The memo, portions of which were published by Blacklock’s Reporter, was written just a few hours before convoys and trucks started to…