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
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.