The Justice Centre, along with the Democracy Fund and Citizens for Freedom, has “full participatory standing” at the Inquiry, which will include a seat at counsel table, the opportunity to make evidentiary, factual, and legal submissions, to submit policy papers, to suggest and cross-examine witnesses, and/or to participate in policy roundtables and deliberations. Lawyers Rob Kittredge and Hatim Kheir are attending on behalf of the Justice Centre.
Additionally, the Justice Centre funds the solicitors of the Freedom Convoy group with standing at the Inquiry, Keith Wilson, KC, and Eva Chipiuk.
The Commission has announced that it expects to hear from 65 witnesses within the next six weeks.
You can see videos of selected cross examinations below, and find additional information in our Twitter feed from the commission.
Public Order Emergency Commission Videos
| Day 31
November 25 Chipiuk delivers the summary statement |
Eva Chipiuk, counsel for Freedom Convoy Organizers | Eva Chipiuk, counsel for Freedom Convoy Organizers, delivers the summary statement for her clients on the final day of the hearings for evidence at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on November 25, 2022. Written final statements from all parties are to follow. The Commission will move on to it policy phase. | ||
| Day 31
November 25 Chipiuk cross-examines Trudeau |
Eva Chipiuk, counsel for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada |
Chipiuk reads several submissions from Convoy supporters to the Commission and asks Trudeau if he understands now why people came to Ottawa in January and February. Chipiuk also questions him about the Ottawa Mayor’s deal with the protesters just prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 31
November 25 Kittredge cross-examines Trudeau |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada |
Kittredge returns to a theme he has brought up with previous witnesses, the use of the Emergencies Act to procure tow trucks and compel tow truck drivers to act. He then shows Trudeau a newly unredacted document, disclosed only that morning (after Trudeau had begun his testimony) showing that Americans had offered tow trucks prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 30
November 24 Miller cross-examines Telford, Brodhead, and Clow |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizer
Katie Telford, the Prime Minister’s Office Chief of Staff Brain Clow, the Prime Minister’s Office Deputy Chief of Staff John Broadhead, the Prime Minister’s Office Director |
Miller begins with an appeal to Commissioner Rouleau to remove Government of Canada redactions. He then proceeds to ask Telford about redacted notes of her office manager. | ||
| Day 30
November 24 Miller cross-examines Freeland |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance |
Miller asks Freeland about a note in her handwriting where she appears to be asking that the protesters be designated as “terrorists.” | ||
| Day 30
November 24 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 30 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 29
November 23 Kheir cross-examines Alghabra |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Omar Alghabra, federal Minister of Transport |
Kheir asks Alghabra if the federal government considered resuming its vaccine mandate exemption for truckers in response to the protests. | ||
| Day 29
November 23 Kittredge cross-examines Anandi |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Anita Anand, Canada’s Minister of National Defence |
Kittredge asks Anand about the principles of cabinet confidentially and cabinet solidarity, followed by questions referring to a text message between David Lametti and Marco Mendicino where they joke about bringing in tanks to end the Freedom Convoy protests. Kittredge asks about the National Defence Act and if Anand thinks it is the law of last resort. | ||
| Day 29
November 23 Miller cross-examines Lametti |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, |
Miller tries to get Lametti to explain the legal justification for invoking the Emergencies Act, but Lametti invokes solicitor-client privilege. The client in this case is the Government of Canada. | ||
| Day 28
November 22 Miller’s ejection and return to the hearing |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers | This is a compilation of clips from Day 28 of the Public Order Emergency Commission hearing in Ottawa, November 22, 2022. It shows the events that lead to the ejection of Brendan Miller, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers, from the hearing in the morning and his subsequent return that afternoon. At the end is a clip of Freedom Convoy counsel Bath-Shéba van den Berg putting a newly unredacted document to the Commission. This disclosure is related to issues raised earlier by Miller. | ||
| Day 28
November 22 Kheir cross-examines LeBlanc |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Dominic LeBlanc, federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs |
Kheir questions LeBlanc about the consultation phone call with the Premiers on the morning of February 14, the day the Emergencies Act was invoked. | ||
| Day 28
November 22 Miller cross-examines Mendicino |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety |
Miller relies on Mendicino’s past experience as a federal public prosecutor to try to get him to acknowledge that the identity of a person who is photographed in public waving a Nazi flag is not protected by national security considerations. This refers to testimony by CSIS Director Vigneault from the previous day. | ||
| Day 28
November 22 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 28 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Miller cross-examines Blair – Additional 5 min |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Bill Blair, federal Minister for Emergency Preparedness and President of the Privy Council |
After receiving a document late in the day’s proceedings, Miller asks for, and is eventually granted, five additional minutes. He asks Blair about some newly unredacted minutes from a February 12 ministerial briefing which show that all the law enforcement agencies approved an engagement plan to negotiate a deal with the convoy protesters. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Miller cross-examines Blair |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Bill Blair, federal Minister for Emergency Preparedness and President of the Privy Council |
Miller takes Blair through documents that appear to demonstrate that Blair was opposed to any peaceful resolution to the Freedom Convoy protest last February. Blair objects to this characterization. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Miller cross-examines Vigneault, Tessier and Chayer |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
David Vigneault, Director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Michelle Tessier, CSIS Deputy Director of Operations Marie-Hélène Chayer, Executive Director of the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre |
After sparring with Government of Canada counsel Robert MacKinnon, Miller then asks the panel about several documents related to the government creation of a narrative smearing the Freedom Convoy protesters as violent extremists. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Kittredge cross-examines Blair |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Bill Blair, federal Minister for Emergency Preparedness and President of the Privy Council |
Kittredge gets Blair to agree that the CSIS definition regarding serious violence in the Emergencies Act is sound. Blair attempts to define, or re-define, serious violence. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Kheir cross-examines Vigneault, Tessier and Chayer |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
David Vigneault, Director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Michelle Tessier, CSIS Deputy Director of Operations Marie-Helene Chayer, Executive Director of the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre |
Kheir gets Vigneault to state that he was given legal advice that the Emergencies Act includes a broader definition of a public order emergency than the one written in the Act. | ||
| Day 27
November 21 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 27 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 26
November 18 Miller cross-examines Charette and Drouin |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Janice Charette, Clerk of the Privy Council Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council |
Miller addresses his questions to the Deputy Clerk, a lawyer, to get to a legal interpretation of the CSIS and Emergencies Acts, and how they work together. | ||
| Day 26
November 18 Miller cross-examines Bogden and Hutchinson |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Jacquie Bogden, Deputy Secretary of Emergency Preparedness Jeff Hutchinson, Senior Advisor |
Miller asks if they understand that the Emergencies Act can only be invoked if certain legal requisites under the Act are met. | ||
| Day 25
November 17 Miller cross-examines Thomas |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Jody Thomas, National Security and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA) to the Prime Minister of Canada |
Miller asks Thomas about her role in the lead up to the Emergencies Act. He also queries her about her plan to expand the NSIA office to include intelligence gathering capabilities. | ||
| Day 25
November 17 Kheir cross-examines Sabia, Jacques and Mendes |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Department of Finance Canada bureaucrats Michael Sabia Deputy Minister, and Assistant Deputy Ministers Isabelle Jacques and Rhys Mendes |
Kheir puts it to the panel that essentially the government created something new by declaring the Ottawa Freedom Convoy protest illegal and then targeting funds based on the fact that it was financing illegal activity. | ||
| Day 25
November 17 Miller cross-examines Sabia, Jacques and Mendes |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Department of Finance Canada bureaucrats Michael Sabia Deputy Minister, and Assistant Deputy Ministers Isabelle Jacques and Rhys Mendes |
Miller asks the panel if they are aware that financing political protests in Canada is protected free speech. | ||
| Day 25
November 17 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 25 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 24
November 16 Kheir cross-examines Keenan and Dea |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister at Transport Canada Christian Dea, Transport Canada’s Chief Economist |
Kheir asks Keenan whether he was aware, back in February, that Alberta, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Ottawa Police Service were able to obtain tow trucks before the invocation of the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 24
November 16 Miller cross-examines Keenan and Dea |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister at Transport Canada Christian Dea, Transport Canada’s Chief Economist |
Miller asks Keenan and Dea about Statistics Canada’s April 2022 assessment that the border protests did not have a significant impact on international trade. | ||
| Day 24
November 16 Kheir cross-examines Ossowski |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
John Ossowski, retired President of the Canada Border Services Agency |
Kheir questions Ossowski about the powers border officers were given under the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 24
November 16 Miller cross-examines Ossowski |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
John Ossowski, retired President of the Canada Border Services Agency |
Miller asks Ossowski if he knows of any security agency in Canada that advised the federal government that the threshold to invoke the Emergencies Act had been met. | ||
| Day 24
November 16 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 24 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 23
November 15 Miller cross-examines Zablocki |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Curtis Zablocki, Commanding Officer of Alberta RCMP |
Miller asks Zablocki about the operation that led to the arrest of individuals for weapons charges and conspiracy to commit murder at the Coutts border protests last February. | ||
| Day 23
November 15 Miller cross-examines Lucki and Duheme |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki Mike Duheme, RCMP Deputy Commissioner |
Miller focuses on notes made by Duheme in meetings with federal ministers and bureaucrats in the period leading up to the invocation of the Emergencies Act, and he asks about pressure put on law enforcement by the politicians. | ||
| Day 23
November 15 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 23 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 22
November 14 Kheir cross-examines Termorshuizen and Comartin |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Cindy Termorshuizen, Associate Deputy Minister with Global Affairs Canada Joe Comartin, Consul General of Canada in Detroit |
Kheir questions Termorshuizen about the financial implications for potential investors of Canada’s seizure of bank accounts without prior judicial authorization. | ||
| Day 22
November 14 Miller cross-examines Termorshuizen and Comartin |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Cindy Termorshuizen, Associate Deputy Minister with Global Affairs Canada Joe Comartin, Consul General of Canada in Detroit |
Miller asks Termorshuizen whether Global Affairs has done any assessment of the economic impacts of the protests at the border. | ||
| Day 22
November 14 Kittredge cross-examines Stewart and Rochon |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister for Public Safety Canada Dominic Rochon Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Safety Canada |
Kittredge asks Stewart when he knew that the NDP would support the invocation of the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 22
November 14 Miller cross-examines Stewart and Rochon |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister for Public Safety Canada Dominic Rochon Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Safety Canada |
Miller asks about a CSIS report to cabinet that found no threat to Canada that reached the threshold necessary to invoke the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 22
November 14 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 22 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 21
November 10 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 21 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 21
November 10 Miller cross-examines Degrand |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Marlin Degrand, Assistant Deputy Minister with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General |
Miller asks Degrand about the two female undercover RCMP officers embedded within the group that is now facing serious charges related to weapons seized near the protest at the Coutts border crossing. | ||
| Day 21
November 10 Miller cross-examines Di Tommaso |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Mario Di Tommaso, Ontario Deputy Solicitor General |
Miller asks Di Tommaso whether the City of Ottawa’s stated reason for declaring an emergency was appropriate. Later, Di Tommaso confirms the independence of a police force in Canada from a government’s political branch. | ||
| Day 20
November 9 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 20 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 20
November 9 Miller cross-examines Willett |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Jim Willett, Mayor of the Village of Coutts, Alberta |
Miller asks Willett about the support in Coutts for the protesters at the border last January and February, and about Western Canadian grievances against the federal government. | ||
| Day 20
November 9 Miller cross-examines Freeman |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Ian Freeman, Assistant Deputy Minister & CAO, Corporate Services Division with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation |
Miller asks Freeman about the International Bridges and Tunnels Act, which would have allowed the federal Minister of Transportation to pass an order to clear the Ambassador Bridge at any time for security reasons. | ||
| Day 19
November 8 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir and Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 19 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 18
November 7 Miller cross-examines Crowley |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Jason Crowley, Deputy Chief of the Windsor Police Service |
Miller questions Crowley about Government of Canada claims that protesters were intending to use children as human shields. | ||
| Day 18
November 7 Miller cross-examines Dilkens |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Drew Dilkens, City of Windsor Mayor |
Miller asks Dilkins about a CSIS report opposing the use of the Emergencies Act because of concern that the severity of the measure could radicalize otherwise law-abiding citizens. | ||
| Day 18
November 7 Public Order Emergency Commission |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 18 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 17
November 4 Miller examines Lich |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Tamara Lich, an organizer and fundraiser for the Convoy |
Miller asks Lich about Benjamin Dichter’s testimony and the deal organizers had with the City of Ottawa to move vehicles. | ||
| Day 17
November 4 Van den Berg examines Deering and Braun |
Bath-Shéba van den Berg, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Chris Deering and Maggie Hope Braun |
Deering and Braun were both arrested following the invocation of the Emergencies Act. They are asked to recount their experiences. | ||
| Day 17
November 4 Kittredge examines Deering and Braun |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Chris Deering and Maggie Hope Braun |
Both Deering and Braun were protestors at the Freedom Convoy and were arrested. Kittredge asks them about mainstream media disinformation and if they had witnessed any violence, aggression, or racism, as described in media reports. | ||
| Day 17
November 4 Miller examines Bulford |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Daniel Bulford, security volunteer with the Freedom Convoy |
Miller asks Bulford about his doubts about the mainstream media. Miller asks him to describe his understanding regarding the protesters’ right to stay in Ottawa as long as they remained peaceful. | ||
| Day 16
November 3 Public Order Emergency Commission |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 16 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 15
November 2 Public Order Emergency Commission |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre | Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 15 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 14
November 1 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre |
Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 14 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 14 November 1Miller examines Barber |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Chris Barber, trucker from Saskatchewan and one of the Freedom Convoy organizers |
Miller examines Barber, who describes his time in Ottawa during the protest and his role in getting trucks to move onto Wellington Street as per the deal they had with the city. | ||
| Day 13
October 31 Public Order Emergency Commission Update |
Hatim Kheir, counsel for the Justice Centre
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre |
Kheir recounts the major developments of Day 13 of the Public Order Emergency Commission. | ||
| Day 13
October 31 Kittredge cross-examines Sloly |
Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre
Peter Sloly, former Chief of the Ottawa Police Service |
Kittredge first asks Sloly about towing procurement and then moves on to ask whether Sloly had any credible intelligence of there being any detrimental foreign influence, espionage, or sabotage regarding the convoy. | ||
| Day 13
October 31 Miller cross-examines Sloly |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Peter Sloly, former Chief of the Ottawa Police Service |
Miller shows Sloly text messages revealing that those working for Public Safety Minister Mendicino and Prime Minister Trudeau were planning to craft a “January 6th insurrection” kind of narrative about the convoy long before it arrived in the capital. | ||
| Day 11
October 27 Miller cross-examines Carrique |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Thomas Carrique, Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner |
Miller goes over various aspects of the law regarding lawful and unlawful assembly and the doctrine of “officially induced error”. Miller then asks Carrique if he is aware that there were no charges of unlawful assembly laid against the members of the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 10
October 26 Miller cross-examines Drummond |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Robert Drummond, Ottawa Police Service Superintendent |
Miller asks Drummond why little effort was made to move the concrete barricades that would have allowed trucks to relocate onto Wellington or to leave the city. | ||
| Day 10
October 26 Van den Berg cross-examines Bernier |
Bath-Shéba van den Berg, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Robert Bernier, Ottawa Police Service Superintendent |
Van den Berg learns that Bernier was responsible for the planning and execution of the February 18 police action which cleared of the city of protestors. | ||
| Day 9
October 25 Miller cross-examines Beaudin |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Marcel Beaudin, Ontario Provincial Police Inspector (on temporary assignment as Acting Superintendent in The Indigenous Policing Bureau) |
At the very end, Miller asks Beaudin about the proposed deal which would have allowed protest representatives to meet with federal politicians in exchange for their asking protestors to leave Ottawa. Miller explains to the witness that the federal cabinet received and read the proposal and then, at the same meeting, immediately invoked the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 9
October 25 Kheir cross-examines Beaudin |
Hatim Kheir, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Marcel Beaudin, Ontario Provincial Police Inspector (on temporary assignment as Acting Superintendent in The Indigenous Policing Bureau) |
Kheir asks Beaudin about a proposed deal that would have allowed protest representatives to meet with federal politicians in exchange for them asking protestors to leave Ottawa. | ||
| Day 9
October 25 Van den Berg cross-examines Lucas |
Bath-Shéba van den Berg, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Russell Lucas, Ottawa Police Service Inspector |
Van den Berg asks Lucas about the cold weather and the protestors who were detained on February 18 and then dropped off at remote locations. | ||
| Day 8
October 24 Miller cross-examines Bell |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Steve Bell, Ottawa Police Service Interim Chief |
Miller asks Bell about the discussions with Child Aid Societies regarding enforcement in the downtown core protest. Miller then inquires about the number of charges laid against protestors prior to the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 8
October 24 Kittredge cross-examines Bell |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Steve Bell, Ottawa Police Service Interim Chief |
Kittredge asks Bell about the other non-emergency powers police could have used to deal with the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 7
October 21 Van den Berg cross-examines Pardy |
Bath-Shéba van den Berg, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Carson Pardy, (now retired) Ontario Provincial Police Chief Superintendent |
Van den Berg asks Pardy about the planning of various operations to clear protestors from the streets of Ottawa both prior to and after the invocation of the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, 2022. | ||
| Day 7
October 21 Van den Berg cross-examines Abrams |
Bath-Shéba van den Berg, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Craig Abrams, Ontario Provincial Police Superintendent |
Van den Berg asks Abrams about his role in Ottawa as liason with the OPS during the protest and about the lack of communication between police forces. | ||
| Day 6
October 20 Miller cross-examines Ferguson |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Patricia Ferguson, Ottawa Police Service Acting Deputy Chief |
Miller asks Ferguson about the number of arrests involving protestors during the period prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 6
October 20 Kittredge cross-examines Ferguson |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Patricia Ferguson, Ottawa Police Service Acting Deputy Chief |
Kittredge questions Ferguson about advantages conferred on the police from the Emergencies Act. | ||
| Day 5
October 19 Miller cross-examines Morris |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Pat Morris, Superintendent of Provincial Operations, Intelligence Bureau of the Ontario Provincial Police |
Miller questions Morris about credible intelligence on the Freedom Convoy from its beginning in Vancouver to the end of the protest. | ||
| Day 5
October 19 Kittredge cross-examines Deans |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Diane Deans, Ottawa City Councilor and former Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board |
Kittredge asks Deans how the conflict between herself and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and other political infighting affected the resolution of the protest. | ||
| Day 5
October 19 Miller cross-examines Deans |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Diane Deans, Ottawa City Councilor and former Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board |
Miller asks Deans about her role in attempting to obtain further resources for the Ottawa Police to handle the situation in downtown Ottawa and also about her working relationship with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. | ||
| Day 4
October 18 Miller cross-examines Ayotte |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Kim Ayotte, Ottawa General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services |
Miller focuses his questioning on parking and ticketing, and he notes that during the Freedom Convoy there were no assaults on bylaw enforcement officers. | ||
| Day 4
October 18 Kittredge cross-examines Ayotte |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Kim Ayotte, Ottawa General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services |
Kittredge asks about bylaw enforcement, or the lack thereof, during the Freedom Convoy protest. | ||
| Day 4
October 18 Miller cross-examines Watson |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Jim Watson, Ottawa Mayor |
Miller asks specific questions about the politicians whom Watson contacted while looking for extra resources to deal with the situation. | ||
| Day 3
October 17 Kittredge cross-examines Arpin |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Serge Arpin, Ottawa City Chief of Staff |
Arpin worked directly with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson throughout his tenure as mayor and particularly throughout the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 3
October 17 Miller Cross-examines Arpin |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Serge Arpin, Ottawa City Chief of Staff |
Arpin worked directly with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson throughout his tenure as mayor and particularly throughout the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 3
October 17 Kittredge cross-examines Kanellakos |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa City Manager |
Kanellakos was involved in the negotiations that led to the deal with protestors to move the trucks out of residential areas. | ||
| Day 3
October 17 Miller cross-examines Kanellakos |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa City Manager |
Kanellakos was involved in the negotiations that led to the deal with protestors to move the trucks out of residential areas. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Kittredge crosses Fleury and McKenney |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Mathieu Fleury and Catherine McKenney, Ottawa City Councilors |
Local politicians Fleury and McKenney worked to get the Freedom Convoy out of the nation’s capital during the protest. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Miller crosses Fleury and McKenney |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Mathieu Fleury and Catherine McKenney, Ottawa City Councilors |
Local politicians Fleury and McKenney worked to get the Freedom Convoy out of the nation’s capital during the protest. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Kittredge crosses Carrier and McHale |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Nathalie Carrier, ZAC Quartier Vanier BIA Executive Director Kevin McHale, Sparks Street BIA Executive Director |
Carrier and McHale represented some downtown Ottawa business interests to the Commission. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Miller crosses Carrier and McHale |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Nathalie Carrier, ZAC Quartier Vanier BIA Executive Director Kevin McHale, Sparks Street BIA Executive Director |
Carrier and McHale represented some downtown Ottawa business interests to the Commission. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Kittredge crosses De La Ronde and Lion |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Victoria De La Ronde and Zexi Li, Ottawa Residents |
De La Ronde and Li testify to the grievances some in downtown Ottawa experienced against the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 2
October 14 Miller crosses De La Ronde and Li |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers
Victoria De La Ronde and Zexi Li, Ottawa Residents |
De La Ronde and Li testify to the grievances some in downtown Ottawa experienced against the Freedom Convoy. | ||
| Day 1
October 13 Rob Kittredge’s introductory remarks |
Rob Kittredge, Counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
Antoine d’Ailly, Counsel for Citizens for Freedom Alan Honner, Litigation Director with The Democracy Fund |
These are the joint introductory remarks on October 13, 2022 by three groups sharing standing at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa. Rob Kittredge, counsel for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, introduces himself and the organization before handing over the podium to Antoine d’Ailly, counsel for Citizens for Freedom. The last to speak is Alan Honner, Litigation Director with The Democracy Fund. They cooperate to share one time slot for cross-examination. As Commissioner the Hon. Paul Rouleau reminds the room, the rules allow for only one presentation per time slot going forward. | ||
| Day 1
October 13 Brendan Miller’s introductory remarks |
Brendan Miller, Foster LLP, Barrister for Freedom Convoy Organizers | Brendan Miller delivers his introductory remarks to the Public Order Emergency Commission on Day 1, October 13, 2022. He describes the conditions on which the Emergencies Act can be justifiably invoked and says that none of these were met. |
