Ottawa police, mayor 'totally mismanaged' Freedom Convoy, Ford told Trudeau
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Ottawa police “lost command” of the situation during the 'Freedom Convoy’ occupation, according to new evidence released at the Emergencies Act public inquiry.
A transcript of a call on Feb. 9 between the prime minister and the premier show that both had concerns over the response to the protest in Ottawa.
“I’ll say that the police chief and Ottawa Mayor totally mismanaged this," Ford told Trudeau according to the call transcript. "The Toronto PD and Toronto Mayor did a great job."
“The problem is, if I can be frank, I’ve spoken to senior police officers, he’s lost command and police officers are going off sick daily. They’ve lost command,” Ford said.
Trudeau replied: “There are PDs that know how to handle this like Quebec and Toronto – so let’s make sure the other PDs know how to respond. We can't continue to get outflanked."
When asked about the premier’s comments on Tuesday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said the premier was slow to get OPP officers to Ottawa.
“One of my frustrations was dealing with Doug Ford," Watson said, adding that the premier should testify at the inquiry.
A federal judge ruled on Monday that Ford and Ontario Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones don’t have to testify despite being summoned by the commissioner, citing parliamentary privilege.
During the call with the Prime Minister, Ford also made it clear that clearing protesters from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor was a priority.
“The bigger one for us and the country is the Ambassador Bridge and the state ground there,” he said.
At the time, demonstrators blocking the key border crossing halted hundreds of millions of dollars in trade per day and stopped essential workers from travelling between Windsor and Detroit.
According to the call transcript, Trudeau told Ford the police “shouldn’t need” more legal tools to clear the blockades at Windsor.
“This is critical, I hear you,” said Ford. “I'll be up their a-- with a wire brush."
The call was made five days before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act. The Ambassador Bridge blockade was cleared just hours before Trudeau brought in the emergency powers on Feb. 14.
Trudeau also told Ford that external police forces—the OPP and the RCMP—would be needed to make a plan to deal with the protesters.
"On Ottawa—it'll go through stages of OPP to RCMP and we'll have a plan," he said. "City of Ottawa has been struggling but as soon as OPP leans in a bit more, we'll have more clarity on things.
"If the Ottawa residents have to go through another weekend like the past few weeks, it won't go well."
The public inquiry into the unprecedented use of the act has scheduled public hearings in Ottawa until Nov. 25.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. teen with Canada's first human case of avian flu in critical condition, Dr. Bonnie Henry says
The teenager who is sick with the first-ever human case of avian influenza acquired in Canada is in hospital in critical condition, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” in his second administration.
Here's why thieves may be stealing butter in Canada
The case of the missing butter remains a mystery, but some have ideas on what's behind the unusual crimes.
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies at 65
Former B.C. premier John Horgan, a popular leader renowned for his affable personality and dedicated public service, has died
Alleged serial killer previously pled guilty to 2018 attack on Waterloo, Ont. bus
The woman accused of killing three people in three days in three Ontario cities also previously admitted to attacking strangers on buses in the Region of Waterloo.
Air Canada to add new routes to U.S., Europe and North Africa in summer 2025
Getting to destinations in the U.S., Europe and North Africa is about to get easier, as Air Canada announced it will be increasing flights to a number of new destinations this summer.
Body found in Montreal park identified as cryptocurrency influencer
The body of a man that was found in a park in the Ahunstic-Cartierville borough last month has been identified as cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi.
History in Halifax is slowly being wiped off the map: study
Saint Mary's University archeologist Jonathan Fowler is sounding an alarm with a new study. According to Fowler, the centuries-old architecture that adds to Halifax’s heritage and historic vibe is slowly being wiped away as the city grows.
2-year-old gorilla 'Eyare' dies unexpectedly at Calgary Zoo
A young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo announced a member of its western lowland gorilla troop passed away unexpectedly, in a news release Tuesday.