Justice Minister David Lametti repeatedly invoked cabinet confidentiality in his appearance before a special committee tasked with investigating the government’s use of the Emergencies Act.
Lametti was asked pointed questions Tuesday evening about federal consultations with provinces and others before declaring an emergency, and when the government received advice to revoke the declaration. On multiple occasions, he responded that he “would not betray cabinet confidence.”
One of the organizers of a planned motorcycle convoy is warning of a “free-for-all” on Friday if Ottawa police don’t allow hundreds of protesters to bring their bikes onto the streets around Parliament Hill.
The federal government says it will not reveal what information led it to use the Emergencies Act to end truckers’ protests this winter, citing cabinet confidentiality in its response to legal challenges.
Four groups accuse the government of acting unlawfully by invoking a state of emergency when, they say, existing legislation such as the Criminal Code and traffic laws were sufficient to address it. Alberta is seeking to join the case as an intervenor, opposing the use of the emergency law.
Conservative Party leadership candidate and Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber has slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for demonizing Freedom Convoy protesters on Parliament Hill last February.
Baber made the comments during an appearance on CBC News’s Power & Politics earlier this week. In the segment, Baber also said that Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act was groundless.
Ottawa convoy protest organizer Pat King is now facing perjury and obstruction of justice charges as he tries to secure his release from jail.
King was arrested on Feb. 18 on charges related to his involvement in the three-week protest against COVID-19 restrictions that overran the streets of Ottawa.
An Access to Information and Privacy request obtained by True North reveals that the total costs for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets in the luxury hotel’s Canadian Room was $234,995.79.
At a press conference in Victoria, British Columbia on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised the right of Canadians to protest, saying he encourages people to express their disagreements with the government.
Trudeau made the comment in response to a question from reporters following an announcement highlighting the Liberal government’s 2022 budget spending on electric vehicles and infrastructure.
The legislation, which would permanently prohibit demonstrations and blockades on “protected transportation infrastructure,” like land or water border crossings and international airports, is, on the face of it, in response to the convoy from earlier this year. This has some superficial appeal given the havoc that things like the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge and the occupation of downtown Ottawa caused.
Jan. 6 was a reaction to what people thought was a stolen election. Patriots of every age and race showed up to listen to Trump speak. Then the mostly peaceful crowd walked to the Capitol. Yes, there was some rioting. But if 300,000 people showed up and a mere handful were arrested, that would be the true definition of “mostly peaceful,” as opposed to the CNN definition. If the crowd wanted to take the Capitol, they would have done it. That was never the plan.
This week Dr. Malone visited the U.S. trucker convoy, voicing his support for the movement and explaining how the truckers, not the government’s medical experts, have science on their side.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms says the conditions violate her guarantees of free expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are now jointly charged with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, counselling intimidation, counselling obstruction of police and obstructing police.
