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Day 3 of Public Hearings, October 17, 2022 Public Inquiry for the Invocation of the Emergencies Act

Tia Riley

On Day 3 of the Emergencies Act hearings, City of Ottawa officials testified that federal Parliamentary Protective Service officers blocked efforts from “good faith” convoy leaders in moving trucks out of residential neighborhoods and onto Wellington Street.

Justice Paul Rouleau explains that if you are going to switch from English to French to give “fair warning” so there is time to put on translation equipment referring to the previous bizarre conduct from Mathieu Fleury.

MR. STEVE KANELLAKOS, Sworn
Examination in-Chief by Ms. Natalia Rodriguez
Cross-Examination by Mr. David Migicovsky
Cross-Examination by Mr. Tom Curry
Cross-Examination by Mr. Paul Champ
Cross-Examination by Mr. Rob Kittredge
Cross-Examination by Mr. Brendan Miller
Cross-Examination by Ms. Andrea Gonsalves
Cross-Examination by Ms. Cara Zwibel
Cross-Examination by Ms. Colleen McKeown
Cross-Examination by Ms. Anne Tardif
Re-Examination by Ms. Natalia Rodriguez

Steve Kanellakos: “Under the assumption that they were going to leave after the weekend, we all thought it went quite well” “there wasn’t any violence, people were protesting, it was managed, there were no major incidents other than the honking”.

Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa City manager says that former police “chief Sloly didn’t think he had the legal authority to prevent trucks from coming into the core based on their Charter rights.”

City Manager Steve Kanellakos testifies that the Provincial Government viewed the freedom convoy in Ottawa as a law enforcement matter that “could be dealt with through existing authorities.”

City Manager Steve Kanellakos testifies that Ottawa police supported the agreement between the city and the convoy to move trucks out of residential areas and onto Wellington St.

“There was no other place to put the trucks,” Kanellakos said. “The discussion (with protest organizers) was that we wanted to reduce the footprint in the area, to get them out of the neighborhoods.”

Kanellakos testifies that they met with convoy leaders and lawyers and came to an agreement on February 13, 2022 prior to the Invocation of the Emergencies Act.

 

Paul Champ, Ottawa Coalition lawyer stated there was an incident at the Chateau Laurier where firetrucks had difficulty getting to.  Ottawa city manager Steve Kanellakos responded “That’s actually not true.”

Kanellakos confirms a “gas truck” was found parked in an underground parking lot beneath the Rideau Centre, but says it wasn’t a serious risk and danger.  “I can’t speak for the Rideau Centre,” Kanellakos says when told mall management thought it was dangerous.

Ottawa city manager Steve Kanellakos says that tow truck operators and by-law officers were not assaulted by protesters while enforcing by-laws and removing trucks from downtown Ottawa.

Ottawa City Manager Steve Kanellakos says he’s aware of no issues of equipment damage or assaults against tow truck drivers who did remove vehicles.

Steve Kanellakos testifies that the protestors intended to proceed with their agreement to move trucks on to Wellington St before the Emergencies Act was invoked. Steve Kanellakos was unable to confirm which level of policing decided not follow through with the Agreement, but testifies that is was not the protestors that stopped the deal.

He (Wilson) did everything he could in his power in order to move these trucks?”

“He did.”

“And these individuals tried to move their trucks under the agreement onto Wellington, and it was the OPS who didn’t allow it?”

“I don’t know if it was OPS or PPS, I’m not sure.”

 

 

MR. SERGE ARPIN, Sworn
Examination in-Chief by Mr. Jean-Simon Schoenholz
Cross-Examination by Mr. Brendan Miller
Cross-Examination by Mr. David Migicovsky
Cross-Examination by Mr. Tom Curry
Cross-Examination by Ms. Andrea Gonsalves
Cross-Examination by Mr. Paul Champ
Cross-Examination by Mr. Rob Kittredge
Cross-Examination by Ms. Alyssa Tomkins

Serge Arpin Ottawa’s chief of staff on trying to broker a deal to move trucks out of residential area with help of Dean French: says “It wasn’t a stunt’, Freedom Convoy organizers acted in good faith during negotiations, adding it was “quickly apparent” that organizers didn’t want to harm residents.

Did you give advice to the Mayor that he should support the invocation of the EA?

I didn’t have to. We were informed of it after it was invoked, & the Mayor expressed his immediate support for the invocation of the Act, so there was no debate, no opportunity to provide guidance.

“He [former Police Chief Sloly] told the Mayor that the Charter dictates that we allow this demonstration.”

Arpin testifies: The invocation of the Act created a new legal framework around Parliament Hill in that ‘red zone,’ and the authorities decided to take a step back and see what was the impact of the invocation.

So, they reneged on a deal with protestors because of the EA.

“We’ve provided photos that show four or five city streets that were cleared at least three or four blocks deep, so they [convoy counsel and organizers] appeared to have some ability to deliver – at least partially – on their commitment [to the City].”

You provided Mike Jones, chief of staff to Minister Mendicino with a copy of the Mayor’s letter (agreement with convoy), shortly before making the letter public?

-Yes, as a courtesy.

Apart from that, federal officials were not consulted on this?

-They would have been.

Witness testifies that the deal brokered between convoy counsel and the City of Ottawa to begin the removal and redistribution of trucks to ease pressure on residential areas was genuine – “We found out it wasn’t a stunt.”

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