The risk to Canada’s economic reputation lies behind the federal government’s reference to the Emergency Convocation Act to stop the blockades of the Freedom Convoy across the country, the deputy prime minister and finance minister told lawmakers on Tuesday.
But Christia Freeland, the highest-ranking minister who has not yet appeared before a special commission investigating the government’s unprecedented use of emergency powers, will not share specific data that would be available at the time the law is implemented. which would show that the protests were detrimental to the national economy.
“It was clear to me that with each passing hour, our economic reputation with the United States as a reliable trading partner and a reliable investment destination is being damaged,” she said.
Read more: Freedom Convoy catches police, institutions unprepared, former Ottawa police chief says
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She cited comments made by Michigan spokeswoman Elisa Slotkin in early February when protesters blocked the key Ambassador Bridge between her state and Ontario, saying the blockades had led to more Buy American policies to end dependence on foreign trade. including Canada.
“It’s so dangerous for Canada, colleagues,” Freeland said.
“I was deeply, deeply concerned that these illegal blockades and this illegal occupation would provoke a whole new wave of protectionism and deeply undermine our trade relations with the United States. It was a real economic threat. “
Such a threat cannot be felt at the moment, the minister said, but rather “in the coming years”.
2:51 Freeland says Ottawa convoy was “agonizing” time for Canadians, government Freeland says Ottawa convoy was “agonizing” time for Canadians, government
Some members of the committee did not like this, including NDP MP Matthew Green, who pressured Freeland for relevant economic data that would affect the decision to invoke the Emergency Situations Act.
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Their exchange has been fierce as Freeland has challenged Green’s claim that reputation and “feelings” don’t matter when it comes to the economy, and in particular its impact on government decision-making.
“I’m not talking about pontificate, I’m talking about facts here,” Green said at one point.
“I don’t believe I’m pontificating,” Freeland replied. “The economic impact was absolute, clear.”
“That’s not good enough,” Green said.
Read more: Mendicino was “misunderstood” when he said police had asked for the Emergency Situations Act: official
Some of the economic data Freeland cited was released after the last trucks were removed outside parliament, including an assessment by the Ottawa City Council that the blockade there cost the city at least $ 30 million.
Experts predicted during the blockade that the economic consequences could be felt months later, without giving specific figures.
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However, the data show that the blockades of Ambassador Bridge and Coutts, Alta., Border crossings had little effect on cross-border trade, with truck drivers simply being diverted to other nearby ports of entry.
Although he could not speak to police action and their needs at the time, Freeland said he spoke daily with Canadian business leaders and owners who expressed concerns about the economic impact of the blockades.
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“These were not people who were hyperventilating,” she said. “These were people who really saw every day how their business was eroded, and therefore the national economy.
During a speech, several opposition lawmakers accused Freeland of failing to provide clear answers to questions, with Green at one point accusing the minister of being “almost despised”.
6:01 Conservatives continue to hit liberals over the implementation of the Emergency Situations Act
Freeland spoke of the controversial financial measures taken under the law, which included ordering banks to freeze the accounts of some protesters, as well as those of all donors to the Freedom Convoy movement.
She said all decisions to freeze accounts were taken independently of financial institutions, independent without “political guidance”, based on information received from law enforcement and internal data.
The government said more than 200 bank accounts worth $ 7.8 million were frozen while the law was in force. All affected accounts were unfrozen after the law was repealed on February 23rd.
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Freeland told the committee that the RCMP had never provided a list of donors to financial institutions to target emergency measures. She later added that the court orders would take too long to have the desired effect, which should have stopped the Freedom Convoy movement and stopped future blockades.
Freeland has repeatedly said that invoking the Emergency Act is a “last resort” for the government to tackle the blockades and give police the necessary powers to remove protesters and their vehicles after weeks of inaction.
Read more: Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell has not asked federal officials to refer to the Emergency Situations Act
“I think it was a painful time for many Canadians and it was a painful time for everyone in government because we had to balance some serious things against each other,” she said.
“We did not refer to the Emergency Law lightly. That’s why it took a while. “
Following Freeland’s appearance, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told the committee that it took several days for the Convoy of Freedom movement to rise to the level of a national state of emergency, prompting his ministry and others to intervene.
He also tried to clarify that the government had never received a recommendation from the police to invoke the Emergency Situations Act.
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Marco Mendicino, Blair’s successor as public safety minister, has been criticized for telling the commission that police have asked the government to invoke the law, although RCMP and Ottawa police officials have said otherwise.
1:20 Conservatives call on Marco Mendicino to resign Conservatives call on Marco Mendicino to resign
“The police (obviously) have had difficulty in meeting the legitimate goal of restoring public order in the city of Ottawa, protecting the people of Ottawa, and opening these vital trade corridors (under existing laws),” he said. “I had to figure out why.
“One of the considerations that the government must take into account before invoking the law is to ensure that no other Canadian law can be enforced in these circumstances. So I think it was absolutely necessary and appropriate to consult with law enforcement. “
Mendicino used similar language to try to clarify his previous comments, but that did not stop the Conservatives from calling for his resignation. The Minister defended his actions.
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– with files from Canadian Press
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