Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday called for the establishment of an investigation into the use of the Emergencies Act.
In a press release, Trudeau said an independent public inquiry called the Emergency Public Order Commission would be created to examine the circumstances that led to the statement being issued.
Trudeau invoked the law for the first time in Canadian history during the Freedom Convoy, giving the federal government temporary powers to deal with lockdowns and protests against pandemic restrictions.
“This includes the evolution of the convoy, the impact of funding and misinformation, the economic impact, and the efforts of police and other first responders before and after the declaration,” the statement said.
Paul Rouleau has been named as the commissioner leading the investigation. He was first appointed as a judge of the Ontario Superior Court in 2002 and then joined the Ontario Court of Appeals in 2005.
Rouleau, who also served in the territories during his litigation career, will be tasked with submitting the final report, in both official languages, to both Houses of Parliament by February 20, 2023.
“In the coming days and weeks, I will work to establish the Emergency Public Order Commission and will provide more information on the operation of the Commission in the near future,” Rouleau said in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring that the process is as open and transparent as possible, recognizing the tight reporting deadlines imposed by the Emergencies Law.”
Trudeau said in a statement that Rouleau would investigate the circumstances that led to the Emergencies Act being invoked “and make recommendations to prevent these events from happening again.”
Trudeau cited “serious challenges” in invoking the Emergencies Act
The Emergencies Act was repealed on February 23 after police successfully cleared Ottawa’s streets and put an end to adjacent protests. By law, an investigation into the use of the act must be called within 60 days of revoking the declaration.
Trudeau cited “serious challenges to law enforcement’s ability to effectively enforce the law” when announcing its use.
“This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs and restoring trust in our institutions,” he said at the time.
The unprecedented use of the Emergencies Act, according to Trudeau, gave police tools to restore order in places where public gatherings were considered illegal and dangerous activities, such as blockades.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at the time that Canadian financial institutions could temporarily stop providing financial services in cases where an account was suspected of being used to promote blockades and illegal occupations.
When it was first announced, the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec raised concerns about invoking the law.
Mixed commission that reviews the Emergencies Law
In March, a special joint committee of seven parliamentarians and four senators began reviewing the use of the Emergencies Law.
That committee will meet again on Tuesday. He hasn’t published any findings yet.
The Emergencies Law establishes the terms for the cabinet to establish the investigation announced on Monday. It says an investigation must be carried out “into the circumstances that led to the issuance of the declaration and the measures taken to deal with the emergency.”
Inquiries generally involve witnesses offering testimony, the review of records, and the use of experts to assist parliamentarians.
Reference-www.cbc.ca