Emergencies Act inquiry a federal matter, not provincial: Doug Ford

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Premier Doug Ford is defending his refusal to testify at the Emergencies Act Inquiry by emphasizing it was a federal matter despite the Freedom Convoy blockades occurring in Ottawa and Windsor.

“This is a federal inquiry into the federal government’s use of the federal Emergencies Act,” Ford told the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday. “From day one … for Ontario, this was a policing matter, it was not a political matter, and the opposition knows … politicians don’t direct the police. Top officials from the OPP that were running the operation in conjunction with the municipal police agencies and the RCMP are testifying at the committee.”

NDP MPP Marit Stiles, who called Ford’s response “baloney,” noted the premier used the word “federal” 13 times in his reply to her question.

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The Ford government has sent top bureaucrats and policing officials along with cabinet documents to the inquiry but is in federal court attempting to argue that irreparable harm will occur if the Premier and former Solicitor General Sylvia Jones are forced to testify.

The Public Order Emergency Commission, established by the Justin Trudeau government to examine the federal use of a declaration of emergency, has a number of questions for Ford regarding his thoughts and actions when Freedom Convoy protesters took over the downtown streets of Ottawa and blocked international trade in Windsor.

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Government House Leader Paul Calandra said this was a policing matter so the Commissioner of the OPP and other senior officers will testify.

Stiles said the opposition would be happy to grant Ford a “hall pass” if he needs to miss Question Period to testify at the inquiry.

This government is using every excuse in the book – they’re saying it’s irreparable harm, they’re saying it’s a federal matter, they saying he can’t get out of House duty or parliamentary privilege,” Stiles said. “The fact is this premier is hiding.”

Opposition parties have accused Ford of a delayed and underwhelming response to the blockades despite significant negative impacts on both major Ontario cities.

aartuso@postmedia.com