Head of OPP says anti-mandate protests and blockades posed risk to national security

The head of the Ontario Provincial Police says the numerous protests and blockades across the country, including the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa, posed a risk to national security.

On Thursday, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique told the Public Order Emergency Commission that he agreed that the Emergencies Act was a useful tool for law enforcement and that the situation had escalated to being a threat to national security.

In his opinion, “based on everything that was going on around this country … (the protests and blockades) posed a risk to national security,” he said.

Last week, Supt. Pat Morris, who leads the OPP’s intelligence bureau, told the commission there was no credible threat to national security.

“We put in (the situation report) that there was a potential national security threat because of the movement to the borders, and specifically to the Ambassador Bridge (in Windsor, Ont.),” Morris said.

“I spoke about that with colleagues from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and with the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, and they did not see things that reached their threshold in terms of what would be deemed a threat to the security of Canada.”

Carrique clarified that he agreed with Morris that there was no credible threat to national security, but he was basing his opinion on different thresholds.

“I don’t want any confusion over threat to the security of Canada as it relates to the CSIS Act,” he said. 

“We’re talking about a strategic approach to overall national security — transportation, critical infrastructure, border crossings, economic security — all those things. All of those components encompass a multifaceted approach to national security and are identified by Public Safety Canada as being important to national security.”

Earlier in the day, the commission heard how the federal government was losing confidence in the Ottawa Police Service to handle the situation in Ottawa. On Feb. 5, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki texted Carrique that Ottawa was “losing/lost confidence in the OPS.” Lucki told Carrique that it was difficult to calm cabinet ministers down when “they see cranes, structures, horses, bouncing castles in downtown Ottawa.”

When asked during cross-examination if he had lost confidence in former OPS chief Peter Sloly, Carrique said it was a challenging situation to be in.

Lucki has yet to testify before the commission. Sloly, who resigned during the convoy, is expected to appear on Friday. 

The commission is reviewing the government’s use of the never-before-used Emergencies Act, which was employed in response to protests and blockades across the country, including a massive occupation of Ottawa’s downtown. Use of the Emergencies Act automatically triggers the requirement to hold an inquiry.

So far, the commission has heard testimony from police and city politicians. Outgoing mayor Jim Watson testified that he believed the Emergencies Act was needed to end the convoy.