Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc provided an update to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the progress made in response to the recommendations from the Emergencies Act inquiry. While much of the government’s response is still a work in progress, LeBlanc outlined several actions taken so far.
Commissioner Paul Rouleau’s report, which was the result of weeks of testimony and analysis, concluded that the Liberal government met the threshold to invoke the Emergencies Act in response to the “Freedom Convoy” demonstrations in 2022. Rouleau made 56 recommendations in his report, focusing on issues such as lack of action and coordination among policing, intelligence, and security agencies.
LeBlanc’s status report highlighted six areas where the federal government has taken action. These include efforts by the RCMP to improve policing during public order events and collaboration with law enforcement agencies, as well as the assessment of the contract policing program. Transport Canada is also working to identify and protect key transport corridors and infrastructure, while the Canadian Border Services Agency has updated border management plans at 11 ports of entry.
The creation of a new National Security Council was mentioned in LeBlanc’s letter, which would allow ministers to address pressing concerns related to domestic and international security. However, the specific role and information sharing of such a body are not clear.
LeBlanc also mentioned the Privy Council Office’s work on responding to recommendations regarding the monitoring and reporting of information contained in social media. Additionally, efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation online have been put in place through the Digital Citizen Initiative and the establishment of the Protecting Democracy Unit within the Privy Council Office.
LeBlanc stated that the federal government is giving careful consideration to the commission’s recommendations for modernizing the Emergencies Act and will provide more details in its official response next year.
Under the Act, temporary measures such as the prohibition of public assemblies and freezing of assets were implemented. While the federal government argued that these measures were targeted and compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Rouleau’s report suggested that the situation leading to the Act’s invocation could have been avoided.
These recommendations come as a legal challenge of the Act is ongoing in federal court. LeBlanc informed Trudeau that a comprehensive government response will be presented in February 2024.
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