Windsor Police Service granted standing at Emergencies Act inquiry
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Windsor will have an increased presence at the public inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act earlier this year, after the inquiry’s commissioner on Thursday granted standing to the Windsor Police Services.
A Public Order Emergency Commission of Inquiry will examine the Trudeau government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act earlier this year during the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge and the siege of downtown Ottawa by so-called “freedom convoys.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the first leader to make a declaration under the Emergencies Act, legislation passed in 1988 that replaced the War Measures Act last used by his father Pierre Trudeau during the 1970 October Crisis.
Mayor Drew Dilkens, who has been called by the independent commission to testify, said the city “plans to be a full participant in these hearings, to support the Commission’s work and provide whatever help we can.
“Importantly, the work of this Commission is two-fold: first to review the use of the Emergencies Act, in this instance, and second, to develop policy recommendations for the Federal government associated with the illegal blockades,” Dilkens said in a statement.
“This is a thoughtful approach that will help ensure that our vital international trade corridors remain secure, safe and reliable for business now and in the future.”
Despite a late application for full standing, Windsor’s police were given permission to participate by commissioner Paul S. Rouleau.
In his decision, Rouleau said the delay in the WPS’s application was not extensive and had not caused any significant prejudice to the commission or any of the parties. “WPS has proactively begun to prepare relevant documents for production to the Commission, which reduces the impact of its late application on the Commission’s work,” Rouleau wrote.
“I am also of the view that, given its role in the protests that occurred at the Ambassador bridge, the participation of the WPS would further the mandate of the Commission.”
In its application, the Windsor Police Service stated that it has a “substantial and direct interest in the commission’s mandate given its role in responding to protests that occurred at the Ambassador Bridge.
“In the course of responding to the blockade, the WPS gained relevant information about the evolution of the protestors’ goals, the role that information and disinformation played in the protest movement, and the impact of the protests on the local community.”
To date, the federal government has not responded to the city’s request for $5.6 million in compensation for blockade costs.
The city has hired legal counsel to provide representation as it pertains to the commission’s undertakings. The commission has the power to secure evidence that could include city emails, documents and witness testimony.
In his incident review request sent to the federal government in March, the mayor stated that a better command structure needs to be established to govern any future disruption along vital national trade corridors, including the Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.
“The recent blockade incident at the Ambassador Bridge highlighted a vulnerability in our governance model,” Dilkens wrote. “The City of Windsor is certainly responsible for local infrastructure and the Windsor Police Service is capable of providing adequate and effective law enforcement for our community.
“That said, the need for broader collaboration and support from Provincial and Federal governments to bolster the safety and security of our borders appears obvious.”
The commission’s final report, with findings and recommendations, must be tabled in the House of Commons and Senate of Canada by Feb. 20, 2023.
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