‘Freedom convoy’ organizers, police granted full standing in Emergencies Act inquiry – National

Investigative commissioner examines Ottawa’s use of Emergency Situations Act to finish “Freedom Convoy”‘The protest in February facilitated the organizers, police and representatives of all three levels of government.

Paul Rouleau’s decision announced Monday means that permanent grantees will be notified in advance of information being submitted as evidence prior to an investigation, while also granting them certain privileges, such as the opportunity to suggest or cross-examine witnesses.

Those eligible for the public inquiry include the federal government, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the cities of Ottawa and Windsor, Ont., the Ottawa Police Department, the Ontario Provincial Police and the convoy organizers , including Tamara Lich, Tom Marazzo, and Chris Barber.

Former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly will be allowed to produce documents, submit facts, evidence and policy issues, and examine witnesses, and the Manitoba government has been authorized to provide them. submission text.

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RCMP commissioner explains how the Emergency Act was used during trucker protests in Ottawa

However, Rouleau denied siding with the Conservative Party of Canada and some of the protesters, some of whom had their bank accounts frozen under the Act.

Rouleau said it is important that the investigation remains an independent, non-partisan process, noting that there is also a Senate and House Joint Special Committee on Emergency Declarations that are looking into the use of powers of the law.