SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 87

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2022 11:00AM
  • Jun/13/22 2:21:58 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the public safety minister has been studying Vladimir Putin's theory of revisionist history. The public safety minister is misleading Canadians about why he took the unprecedented step of using the Emergencies Act to implement martial law. To quote the minister, he said, “we invoked the Emergencies Act on advice from the police.” Well, it turns out the Ottawa city police said they did not ask for it, the RCMP said they did not ask for it and the OPP said they did not ask for it. Did the minister invent these facts to support his Liberal power grab?
106 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:23:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I want to be absolutely clear that we invoked the Emergencies Act because it was necessary to protect the health and safety of Canadians. As we heard from Commissioner Lucki herself during her testimony before the committee, the Emergencies Act was necessary. I wonder when the Conservatives are going to finally offer their sincere apologies to the residents of Ottawa, who, during the protest, were encouraged to stay by the interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. It was wrong, wrong, wrong.
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:33:22 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, according to the government, the special forces spy flight over the Ottawa protest was just training. I wonder where that data went. The minister said the Emergencies Act was justified because of an attempt at arson, which was not so, and because the protest was significantly foreign funded, which was also not so. As well, police never asked for the invocation of the act. When will the government admit that the Emergencies Act was a power grab overreach to stifle legitimate, democratic dissent?
85 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:43:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, we invoked the Emergencies Act to protect Canadians. It was a necessary decision, which is exactly what the RCMP commissioner told the committee. I would also like to ask my colleague when the Conservatives are going to offer to reimburse the communities here in Ottawa for the expenses incurred, given that his party bears some responsibility after the interim leader of the Conservative Party encouraged the blockade and illegal occupation. That was wrong, and the Conservatives should offer to reimburse the costs.
91 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:44:12 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House have sent a clear message that it was a necessary decision. Yes, we consulted police forces before invoking that act. Yes, we sought the advice of police forces before invoking the act. We will continue to work closely with police forces to protect our communities. The Conservatives actually encouraged the illegal blockade. That was very wrong, and they need to offer to reimburse the residents of Ottawa and people across the country for their expenses.
84 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:51:26 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, the public safety minister said nine times that he invoked the freeze and seize Emergencies Act at the request of the police. The RCMP denied this, the acting Ottawa police chief denied this and even the former Ottawa police chief denied this. How can Canadians trust the minister or his government?
53 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Jun/13/22 2:53:44 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, my hon. colleague across the aisle sets a very high threshold for openness and transparency, and I wonder when he is going to shine a light on the conduct of his own caucus colleagues, including the interim Conservative Party of Canada's leader, who was egging on the illegal occupation long after it had become dangerous. Not only did those statements put at jeopardy the lives and health and safety of Ottawa residents, but they also put in danger the lives and safety of our frontline police officers. It was wrong. They should apologize.
100 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border