RCMP Commissioner Relayed Advice to Ministers to Negotiate Before Using Force on Convoy Protesters

A police officer smashes a truck window as police deploy to remove demonstrators participating in the Freedom Convoy protest opposing COVID-19 mandates and restriction, in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images

A day before the Trudeau government invoked the Emergencies Act, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki prepared briefing notes for relevant ministers on the plan to clear protesters and relayed expert advice about the need for negotiation before using force, according to a document obtained by The Epoch Times.

“This group of experts has determined that there are crowd engagement and negotiation strategies that must be relied upon before the application of force would be justified,” say Lucki’s notes prepared for a Feb. 13 meeting of the Incident Response Group (IRG).

The IRG includes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and relevant ministers and officials.

According to evidence heard at the commission on Nov. 15, the notes were not delivered to the IRG.

Lucki’s notes say the “group of experts” refers to “foremost experts” in the fields of crowd control and incident management and planning assembled by the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) from across Canada to develop a strategic plan.

The notes say the group included an RCMP  “forensic physiologist” “who specializes in crowd dynamic, and possesses the necessary academic and operational credentials to provide expert evidence related to justifying the use of force.”

The commission hasn’t heard any evidence so far that the federal government contemplated negotiating with Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa before using force, but it was revealed on Oct. 26 that then-deputy minister of Public Safety Rob Stewart worked on an a proposal to engage protesters.

Stewart reportedly brought the proposal to an IRG meeting on Feb. 12 but it was not adopted.

Emergencies Act

Lucki’s speaking notes indicate the RCMP was providing information to the government on the implications of declaring a public order emergency on Feb. 13.

“We are actively engaged in the discussion on the implications of the Emergencies Act and we are exploring what measures may be available from an operational perspective. My team has just met with Justice [Department] colleagues to provide our input.”

The notes contained a list of measures that would be useful if the act was invoked.

Those included a prohibition of public assemblies, making it illegal to assist protesters with items such as fuel, and giving authorities the power to commandeer tow trucks.

Despite providing this input, Lucki said there was no immediate need to invoke the act.

“This said, I am of the view that we have not yet exhausted all available tools that are already available through existing legislation,” her notes state.

She mentioned charges could be laid under the Criminal Code or the emergency declared by the province.

“These existing tools are considered in our existing plans and will be used in due course as necessary.”

Lucki relayed the same idea via email on Feb. 14 to Mike Jones, chief of staff to the minister of public safety, hours before the act was invoked.

This view that the act was not immediately necessary or needed to clear the protest has been shared before the commission by interim Chief of the Ottawa Police Service Steve Bell and OPP Chief Supt. (ret.) Carson Pardy, who was involved in planning the protest removal.

Other Protests

Lucki’s speaking notes also gave a cross-country portrait of the state of various protests and border blockades.

She gave the impression that the authorities had the situation under control.

“Over the last 10 days, we have had considerable progress in effectively managing the protests and preventing blockages across the country.”

She mentioned smaller actions being dealt with without issue and the Windsor Ambassador Bridge blockade having been resolved.

On the blockades at Coutts, Alberta, and Emerson, Manitoba, Lucki said enforcement was about to take place.

“Enforcement to likely occur tomorrow based on tactical planning and discussions with the provincial government,” Lucki said.

Eventually protesters in Coutts and Emerson left voluntarily, on Feb. 15 and 16 respectively.

On May 10, Lucki told the special joint committee of parliamentarians reviewing the declaration of emergency that no powers granted by the act were used to clear border blockades.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki prepared speaking notes for the Incident Response Group on Feb. 13, 2022, and that those notes were not delivered.