Justin Trudeau rejected idea of negotiating on government policy during convoy protests, referred to ‘armed insurrection’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shot down the concept of negotiating adjustments to authorities coverage and referred to an “armed rebel” throughout discussions about convoy protests, in accordance with notes tabled with the Emergencies Act inquiry on Thursday.

Throughout a Feb. 3 assembly together with his nationwide safety and intelligence adviser Jody Thomas and others, Mr. Trudeau mentioned: “No. No to altering authorities coverage.” It’s unclear precisely what the Prime Minister was responding to as a result of the part within the notes above his remark is redacted.

On the time, anti-government, anti-vaccine-mandate protesters had already spent every week entrenched in downtown Ottawa with huge rigs, pickup vans and different automobiles. Convoy protesters had been demanding an finish to public well being restrictions associated to COVID-19, significantly federal necessities associated to crossing the border.

The notes, that are handwritten, had been authored by Mr. Trudeau’s deputy chief of employees Brian Clow and don’t depict an actual transcript of what was mentioned.

“Their objective is to disrupt and undermine authorities establishments,” the Prime Minister continued, in accordance with Mr. Clow’s notes. “Speaking, certain, however this doesn’t get resolved this fashion. They will’t undermine democracy by terrorizing populations. That is greater than neighbourhoods in Ottawa.”

“They will’t barricade our capital metropolis,” Mr. Trudeau added. The Prime Minister additionally mentioned that if the Ottawa Police Service can’t resolve the protests, the mayor and Premier “have to name for fed.” He then mentioned “that is severe” and made a reference to an “armed rebel,” the notes point out.

The Public Order Emergency Commission, which is led by Justice Paul Rouleau, is inspecting whether or not the federal authorities erred when it invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the Ottawa protests and associated border blockades in Coutts, Alta., and Windsor, Ont. Mr. Trudeau invoked the act on Feb. 14 and it stayed in impact for 10 days. Canadian regulation requires a fee be struck to look at the circumstances of its invocation any time it’s used.

The query of whether or not the federal authorities would converse with protesters has been raised through the inquiry. On Feb. 10, then-deputy minister of public security Rob Stewart reached out to the OPP to take a look at the choice of federal engagement with protesters in Ottawa. A proposal was rapidly developed however was in the end dropped. “The deal can be: depart the protest and denounce illegal exercise and you can be heard,” the proposal mentioned, a replica of which was tabled with the fee final month.

Throughout the convoy protests final winter, each Mr. Ford and Mr. Trudeau flatly rejected negotiating with demonstrators. “I’ll by no means, ever negotiate [with] those that break the regulation, [with] individuals which can be in there illegally and occupying cities,” the Premier mentioned on Feb. 11.

There was a cut up amongst Canada’s premiers about whether or not the Emergencies Act needs to be used, with some harbouring considerations about its potential to inflame protesters, Mr. Clow’s notes present. At a morning assembly on Feb. 14 – simply hours earlier than the act was invoked – Mr. Trudeau shared with the premiers how it could work, saying that it was not a navy motion and was “compliant with Constitution.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is listed as “strongly helps,” in accordance with Mr. Clow’s notes. The premiers from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia additionally expressed assist.

Somebody recognized as “Carolyn,” who can be Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, expressed vital concern, saying, “I don’t need blood on my palms,” the notes say.

She mentioned she was glad the military wouldn’t be referred to as in, including, “I assist the emergency measures, however in case you’re considering military seek the advice of us once more,” the notes point out.

Mr. Trudeau affirmed that the navy was a “final resort.”

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver requested whether or not the act has give you opposition leaders, however it isn’t clear whether or not he was in assist. Mr. Trudeau replied the opposition leaders can be spoken to later that day.

The notes present that, in the meantime, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe thought the act would “inflame” protesters and he opposed it, as did somebody listed as “MB,” which might characterize Manitoba. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is listed within the notes as: “he’s anxious. Irritation.”

The notes present that Quebec Premier François Legault “strongly opposes in QC,” whereas New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs mentioned, “Oppose Nationally,” whereas then-Alberta premier Jason Kenney mentioned that “With respect to Coutts – declaring can be very problematic. Federal declaration might flip this right into a magnet,” but additionally mentioned he didn’t “quibble” with using the act.

Hours earlier than the premiers’ name, the RCMP had raided the border blockade in Coutts, the place police seized firearms and made 13 arrests. The blockade ended quickly afterward.

Ontario’s deputy solicitor-general Mario Di Tommaso testified earlier than the inquiry on Thursday. Mr. Di Tommaso’s view was that the federal authorities’s use of the Emergences Act was “useful, however not essential,” in accordance with a abstract of an interview he had with inquiry attorneys which was tabled with the fee.

Mr. Di Tommaso mentioned Ontario confirmed its skill to cope with the blockade in Windsor by way of the provincial emergency order, and different authorized instruments equivalent to an injunction. “The emergency orders beneath the Emergencies Act had been nonetheless utilized by and helpful to the policing sector as soon as accessible,” he advised the fee.

The interview abstract additionally confirmed some squabbling between officers over whether or not totally different ranges of presidency had been offering enough assist to finish the protests.

On Feb. 6, as an illustration, Mr. Di Tommaso was on a name with officers from the Metropolis of Ottawa and the federal authorities. He recalled that Ms. Thomas, Mr. Trudeau’s safety adviser, advised that “Ontario needs to be coping with the occupation in Ottawa as an alternative of the federal authorities.” He mentioned his response was that protesters had been protesting a federal vaccine mandate in Ottawa and believed the federal authorities had “a big function to play in reaching a decision.”

Mr. Di Tommaso floated numerous options the federal authorities might take into account – together with altering its vaccine coverage.

“Furthermore, it was open to the federal authorities to think about numerous attainable coverage or operational responses to the protests: they may meet with protesters, modify federal vaccine mandates or present essential assets for a police response,” his interview abstract reads.

Mr. Di Tommaso additionally advised inquiry attorneys that, on Feb. 11, then-solicitor-general Sylvia Jones communicated to OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique that she can be keen to satisfy with protest management in Windsor on the situation that they comply with finish the demonstration.

He advised the fee on Thursday that Ms. Jones was additionally keen to talk with protesters in Ottawa however that federal ministers wanted to be there as nicely.

Mr. Di Tommaso is the highest-profile Ontario authorities official the inquiry is scheduled to listen to from. Mr. Ford and Ms. Jones, had been summoned to testify however received their authorized problem in opposition to doing so earlier this week. Mr. Ford mentioned in June that he would testify however then reversed his place.

With a report from Marieke Walsh