Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected the idea of negotiating changes to government policy and referred to an “armed rebellion” during discussions about the convoy protests, according to notes filed with the emergency law inquiry on Thursday. During a Feb. 3 meeting with his national security and intelligence adviser Jody Thomas and others, Mr. Trudeau said: “No. No to changing government policy.” It is unclear exactly what the Prime Minister replied because the section in the notes above his comment is redacted. By then, anti-vaccine anti-government protesters had already spent a week entrenched in downtown Ottawa with big rigs, trucks and other vehicles. Convoy protesters demanded an end to public health restrictions related to COVID-19, particularly federal requirements related to border crossings. The notes, which are handwritten, were compiled by Mr. Trudeau’s deputy chief of staff Brian Clough and do not represent an exact transcript of what was said. “Their aim is to disrupt and undermine government institutions,” the prime minister continued, according to Mr Clough’s notes. “Sure we talk, but it’s not solved that way. They cannot undermine democracy by terrorizing populations. That’s bigger than neighborhoods in Ottawa.” “They can’t block our capital,” Mr. Trudeau added. The premier also said that if the Ottawa Police Service cannot resolve the protests, the mayor and premier “must call for power.” He then said “this is serious” and made reference to an “armed rebellion,” the notes state. The Public Order Emergency Commission, led by Justice Paul Rouleau, is looking into whether the federal government erred in invoking the Emergency Act in response to the Ottawa protests and related border blockades in Coutts, Alta., and Windsor, Ont. . Mr. Trudeau invoked the act on Feb. 14, and it remained in effect for 10 days. Canadian law requires that a committee be convened to review the circumstances of its invocation each time it is used. The question of whether the federal government will talk to protesters has been raised during the investigation. On February 10, then-Deputy Minister of Public Safety Rob Stewart contacted the OPP to consider the option of federal involvement with protesters in Ottawa. A proposal was quickly developed but ultimately rejected. “The deal would be: drop the protest and denounce the illegal activity and you will be heard,” said the proposal, a copy of which was filed with the Commission last month. During the convoy protests last winter, both Mr. Ford and Mr. Trudeau flatly rejected negotiating with the protesters. “I will never, ever negotiate [with] people who break the law, [with] people who are there illegally and are occupying cities,” the prime minister said on February 11. There was division among Canada’s prime ministers over whether to use the emergency law, with some concerned about its potential to inflame protesters, Mr. Clow’s notes show. In a morning meeting on February 14 – just hours before the act was invoked – Mr Trudeau shared with the prime ministers how it would work, saying it was not military action and was “in line with the Charter”. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is cited as “strong supporters,” according to Mr. Clough’s notes. Premiers from Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia also expressed support. Someone identified as “Carolyn,” who would be Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane, expressed considerable concern, saying, “I don’t want blood on my hands,” the notes said. She said she was glad the military would not be called in, adding: “I support emergency measures, but if you think the military consult us again,” the notes said. Mr. Trudeau confirmed that the military was a “last resort.” Yukon Premier Sandy Silver asked if the act reached opposition leaders, but it’s unclear if he supported it. Mr. Trudeau responded that opposition leaders would speak later that day. The notes show that, meanwhile, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe believed the act would “inflame” protesters and opposed it, as did someone referred to as “MB,” representing Manitoba. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston refers to the notes as: “concerned. Inflammation.” The notes show that Quebec Premier François Legault “strongly opposes the QC,” while New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said, “Opose Nationally,” while then-Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said that “Regarding Coutts – the statement would be very problematic. The federal filing could turn it into a magnet,” but he also said he did not “take issue” with the use of the act. Hours before the prime minister’s call, RCMP had stormed the border blockade at Coutts, where police seized firearms and made 13 arrests. The ban ended soon after. Ontario Deputy Solicitor General Mario Di Tommaso testified before the inquiry on Thursday. Mr. Di Tommaso’s view was that the federal government’s use of the emergency law was “helpful, but not necessary,” according to a summary of an interview he had with investigating lawyers filed with the committee. Mr. Di Tommaso said Ontario has shown its ability to deal with the foreclosure in Windsor through the provincial emergency order and other legal tools such as the mandate. “Emergency orders under the Emergency Act were nevertheless used and were useful to the policing sector when they were available,” he told the committee. The summary of the interview also showed some disputes among officials about whether the different levels of government provided enough support to end the protests. On Feb. 6, for example, Mr. Di Tommaso was on a call with officials from the city of Ottawa and the federal government. He recalled that Ms. Thomas, Mr. Trudeau’s security adviser, suggested that “Ontario should deal with the occupation in Ottawa instead of the federal government.” He said his response was that the protesters were protesting the federal vaccine mandate in Ottawa and he believed the federal government had “an important role to play in reaching a solution.” Mr Di Tommaso presented a number of proposals the federal government could consider – including changing its vaccination policy. “Additionally, it was open to the federal government to consider a number of possible political or operational responses to the protests: they could meet with protesters, modify federal vaccine mandates, or provide the necessary resources for a police response,” the interview summary says. of. Mr. Di Tommaso also told investigators that on Feb. 11, then-solicitor general Sylvia Jones notified OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique that she would be willing to meet with the leadership of the protesters in Windsor on the condition that they agree to end the demonstration . . He told the committee Thursday that Ms. Jones was also willing to speak to protesters in Ottawa, but that federal ministers had to be there as well. Mr. Di Tommaso is the highest-ranking Ontario government official scheduled to hear from the inquiry. Mr Ford and Ms Jones were called to testify but won their legal challenge earlier this week. Mr. Ford said in June that he would testify, but then reversed his position. With a report by Marieke Walsh
