Mendicino 'concerned' RCMP withheld badge numbers of officers who cleared Freedom Convoy protest
The RCMP denied an access-to-information request for officers’ names and badge numbers on the basis releasing the information could put officers’ safety at risk
Author of the article:
Article content
OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he’s concerned the RCMP chose not to the release the badge numbers of officers who cleared “Freedom Convoy” protesters from the Ambassador Bridge last winter.
The RCMP denied an access-to-information request for officers’ names and badge numbers on the basis releasing the information could put officers’ safety at risk.
The Canadian Press obtained a briefing note to Commissioner Brenda Lucki on the matter, which included an intelligence report showing that senior Mounties feared officers could be doxed by convoy supporters if they were identified.
“I’m very concerned by that report,” Mendicino said in a recent interview while visiting Saskatchewan.
“Obviously, badges and names are there in the interest of transparency, and we’ll have more to say about that.”
Mendicino then pointed to legislation tabled last spring, which he says would provide more robust civilian oversight of the RCMP.
Protesters had blockaded the Ambassador Bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, Michigan for six days in February.
Police moved in to clear them and laid more than 40 charges on Feb. 13, the day before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act.
In the note to Lucki dated last April, the RCMP emphasized that the situation “presented an exceptional case” involving clear, credible threats.
The decision to deny the request for officer information did not reflect a change in policy under the access law, it said.
The note also said the force recognized that withholding such information could raise questions around transparency, prompting them to ask Lucki for her final approval on the decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2022.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
- Advertisement 2Story continues below
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.