Despite being in Ottawa, Deputy Justice Minister François Daigle in a parliamentary committee on June 7, 2022 said he supported use of emergency powers against the Freedom Convoy after watching TV news coverage of the truckers’ blockade. Members of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency expressed unease with Daigle’s testimony.
“What I saw by watching TV is that police in Ottawa, for example, because I live in that area and I followed that closely, they had trouble enforcing even municipal bylaws or provincial laws,” said Deputy Daigle.
“Which ones?” asked Senator Claude Carignan (Que.). “For example the Highway Traffic Act,” replied Daigle.
“And you know that because you saw it on TV?” asked Senator Carignan. “We received information every day from colleagues, from the RCMP Commissioner and others, so the government could assess whether the police work was effective or not,” replied Daigle.
“So you don’t know which specific laws they weren’t able to enforce?” said Senator Carignan. Deputy Daigle did not comment but acknowledged he never spoke to Ottawa police.
“I am concerned about this statement that you were learning about this on TV,” said Senator Larry Campbell (B.C.).