A senior official in the department of public safety says the minister has been “misunderstood” in saying police asked the federal government to use the Emergencies Act in February.
Deputy minister Rob Stewart appeared before the special joint committee that’s examining the Liberals’ decision to invoke the act on Tuesday evening.
Mendicino referenced supposed law enforcement requests for the Emergencies Act in several statements to the media and in the House of Commons going back to February.
Mendicino also stated in April that the Emergencies Act was “put forward after police officials told us they needed this special power.”
In May, Mendicino said that “at the recommendation of police, we invoked the Emergencies Act to protect Canadians because keeping Canadians safe will always be this government’s priority.”
There is no room for "misunderstandings" or misinformation from Liberals when it comes to invoking the Emergencies Act.
Canadians deserve transparency on this issue and the Liberals are failing to deliver.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/jyX0hT9yDO
— Raquel Dancho (@RaquelDancho) June 8, 2022
Appearing before the committee in April, Mendicino repeatedly said government was acting on the advice of law enforcement and that police advised using the Emergencies Act.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and interim Ottawa police chief Steve Bell and police chief Peter Soloy later denied asking for the act to be used.