OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government on Monday called an independent public inquiry into its decision to use the Emergencies Act earlier this year to deal with a trucker protest against COVID-19 restrictions that blocked border crossings and clogged the streets of the nation’s capital.
Trade was stopped for several days after border crossings were blocked with the U.S. Many streets in downtown Ottawa were flooded by a convoy of large-rigs and trucks protesting COVID restrictions.
The protests were supported by some U.S. politicians, media and personalities including former president Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Fox News personalities and billionaire Elon Muss also participated in the demonstrations.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in history on Feb. 15, granting extraordinary temporary powers to police to clear protesters and for banks to freeze the accounts of those involved.
Trudeau indicated that the government has created the Public Order Emergency Commission to review the circumstances which led to the Emergencies Act being invoked.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the commission will look at the evolution of the convoy, the impact of funding and disinformation, the economic impact, and efforts of police and other responders before and after the declaration.
Paul S. Rouleau from the Ontario Appeal Court has been named as the commissioner of this inquiry. The federal government must receive his final report in English or French by February 20th next year.
