We were played —“No threat of extremist Violence— OPP.

[rookiepilot]

OPP intelligence says convoy protests presented no ‘credible’ threat of extremist violence.


OTTAWA — The intelligence chief of the Ontario Provincial Police told a federal inquiry Wednesday that he saw no “credible” information of a national security threat or extremist violence during the self-styled “Freedom Convoy” protests.
The statement appears to contradict assertions from the federal government, which cited the threat of political violence as part of its justification for invoking the Emergencies Act to deal with the demonstrations last winter.

Supt. Pat Morris, the head of the OPP’s Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau, told an inquiry probing the use of the Emergencies Act that his unit turned up no direct evidence of a threat of extremist violence after weeks of analysis and information-gathering on the protest participants.

“Everybody was asking about extremism. We weren’t seeing much evidence of it,” Morris said during his testimony Wednesday evening.

Morris also suggested that fears of extremist violence stemming from the protests were exaggerated by unnamed political leaders and unspecified news reports. “There always seems to be an overreach that comes with this politicization,” Morris said.

He said that politicians’ comments and media reports during the convoy conveyed an inaccurate “problematic” picture of what was going on.
“I was in a unique situation to understand what was transpiring. So when I read accounts that the state of Russia had something to do with it, or that this was a result of American influence, either financially or ideologically, or that Donald Trump was behind it, or that it was un-Canadian, or that the people participating are un-Canadian, that they were not Canadian views and they are extremists, that’s problematic.”

The formal emergency declaration the Liberal government tabled in Parliament last February cited as part of the justification for the law that the ongoing blockades were “being carried on in conjunction with activities that are directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property, including critical infrastructure, for the purpose of achieving a political or ideological objective within Canada.”
That borrowed directly from the language used in the criminal code and other laws which deal with extremism or terrorism.

Morris objected to broad characterizations that used the word extremism to describe what was going on in the convoy protests.
He said the OPP had no credible intelligence that pointed to a threat of extremist violence or even evidence of criminal activity. He said in the end, the lack of criminal activity at the mass protest “was shocking.”

Morris conceded under questioning by Brendan Miller, a lawyer for convoy participants, that the OPP had no credible intelligence of espionage, sabotage or threats of physical violence or damage to property that might be committed by individuals with political, religious or ideological motivations.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino last winter said that police services had asked the government to declare a federal emergency later saying he was misunderstood. He continued to insist police services believed the powers were critical to ending the protest.
At the outset of the inquiry, a lawyer for the OPP said the police agency didn’t believe the federal Emergencies Act was needed to resolve the protest crisis.
At the time of the emergency declaration, Mendicino also pointed out that the RCMP had seized a cache of guns and body armour and arrested 13 people associated with the weeks-long blockade in Coutts, Alta. And called it a “cautionary tale” about what police are dealing with across the country.

Mendicino alleged the protesters that occupied the streets of downtown Ottawa and inspired border blockades in several provinces were led by a “very small, organized group that is driven by an ideology to overthrow the government through whatever means they may wish to use.”

In the wake of the Emergencies Act invocation, opposition politicians, legal experts and civil liberties groups have raised questions about whether the government’s claim of a threat of violence related to a specific and imminent risk or was more general in nature.
Alex Ballingall is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @aballinga
Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc

So we were lied to, so a sitting government could attack a vocal group of political protesters. I called out this lying BS from moment 1. Third world dictator sh—t. Thats Canada now.

Think the PM owes us an apology. And a bunch of posters here, fanning the ridiculous Jan 6 type flames.

[rookiepilot]

Hmmmmm.

So it wasn’t the Russians?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/convoy ... -1.6621944

Convoy money didn't come from 'foreign actors,' CSIS told officials during protest.


Vigneault also downplayed the presence of extremists among the convoy protesters.

"There are some individuals from other causes who are the hardened elements who will likely use violence but they see this as not their mission," says the summary of Vigneault's remarks. "They are in various locations like Parliament Hill, Quebec City, Toronto, Alberta; however, they are not actively participating or organizing it and are likely using this as a recruiting ground."

The report of Vigneault's comments seems to contradict part of the government's rationale for invoking the Emergencies Act.

"The protests have become a rallying point for anti-government and anti-authority, anti-vaccination, conspiracy theory and white supremacist groups throughout Canada and other Western countries," the government wrote in its statement on invoking the act.

[rookiepilot]

This is absolute looney toons. Canada is an international laughing stock.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/freedom ... -1.6120052

OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino stands by his assertion that the "Freedom Convoy" had extremist elements.

Bizzaro world.

[rookiepilot]

Won’t hear any political leader comment on this. Multiple vehicles (8) —were just firebombed near the new gas pipeline.

Isn’t this a LOT more “violence” than we ever saw in Ottawa?

This story — is ready gone from the CBC BC page after a couple of days.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -1.6630421

[billhill]

This nonsense that the government pulled is classic hypocrisy. And, yes, the whole world is watching and shaking their collective heads in disgust. The only politician standing up and delivering is Danielle Smith and this is getting a lot of attention worldwide also.

[rookiepilot]

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rupa-s ... occupation

Equally disturbing was some of Chief Bell’s verbiage during his testimony to the commission of inquiry.

Likewise, when challenged under cross examination by Convoy lawyer Brendan Miller, Bell, who repeatedly invoked “violence” being done to city residents, conceded that his use of the term did not refer to actual violence as defined by the Criminal Code but a violence that was “felt” by Ottawa residents.

Canada is a laughing stock of the world —-

[digits_]

This is absolute looney toons. Canada is an international laughing stock.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/freedom ... -1.6120052

OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino stands by his assertion that the "Freedom Convoy" had extremist elements.

Bizzaro world.

It was disgusting, but if you want to claim that Canada is an international laughing stock, it would help if you provided some international sources. I haven't seen any yet....

[pelmet]

Trudeau invoked the Emergencies act and all the bridge blockades disappeared at around the same time.

About the only good thing that he ever did as leader. Too bad some people from the party of law and order disgraced themselves over this.

As for the jerks trying to piss off people with their activities in Ottawa....every damn one of them would call the cops if someone blockaded their driveway and honked the horn all night(let alone a couple of weeks).

Too bad they didn't just follow the law and protest legally.

I say, let them share the same jail cell as the protesters shutting down the rail lines a few years back that Trudeau coddled.

[rookiepilot]

As for the jerks trying to piss off people with their activities in Ottawa....

I say, let them share the same jail cell as the protesters shutting down the rail lines a few years back that Trudeau coddled.

On what criminal charges, exactly, justify a lengthy prison term?

[photofly]

He didn't say lengthy.

[7ECA]

On what criminal charges, exactly, justify a lengthy prison term?

Dig out your copy of the Criminal Code of Canada and take a gander. Part II - Offences Against Public Order is a good start; specifically one could take a look at Section 46, Subsection 2; Treason. Punishable upon conviction by life in prison...

Section 51: Intimidating Parliament or legislature. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of 14 years.

Section 59 - 62: Sedition. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum term of 14 years.

Section 63 - 69: Unlawful Assemblies and Riots. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of anywhere between 2 and 10 years...

There is an argument to be made, depending on the severity of the acts that one could end up facing charges under Part II.1 Terrorism; albeit it may be a bit of a stretch for the time being...

[rookiepilot]

On what criminal charges, exactly, justify a lengthy prison term?

Dig out your copy of the Criminal Code of Canada and take a gander. Part II - Offences Against Public Order is a good start; specifically one could take a look at Section 46, Subsection 2; Treason. Punishable upon conviction by life in prison...

Section 51: Intimidating Parliament or legislature. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of 14 years.

Section 59 - 62: Sedition. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum term of 14 years.

Section 63 - 69: Unlawful Assemblies and Riots. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of anywhere between 2 and 10 years...

There is an argument to be made, depending on the severity of the acts that one could end up facing charges under Part II.1 Terrorism; albeit it may be a bit of a stretch for the time being...

Despite the hysteria from the media directly comparing this protest with the Jan 6th event in DC — where serious charges were laid ——— one question ——

Were people charged with any of the above criminal offenses and I, and the rest of the world, somehow missed it?

[7ECA]

Were people charged with any of the above criminal offenses and I, and the rest of the world, somehow missed it?

As of now, no.

But, it doesn't take much of a stretch to imagine a situation in which the Crown could conceivably consider charges of such severity. Actually, it stands to reason that if the "party of law and order" (as pelmet alluded to earlier) were in power and protestors occupied Ottawa, or even just blockaded a rail line or two... that that is exactly the direction they'd go in to charge the ring leaders - rather than the various charges of obstruction, counselling, etc., that Lich and co. are charged with.

[‘Bob’]

No.

You don't need the threat of extremist violence and the police weren't doing their jobs. Business owners were being harassed and losing money. Residents couldn't sleep. Conditions were unsanitary and dangerous.

There are many limits to freedom of speech set by precedents and they show that even non violent occupation of public property denying its free use to society far overstep the boundaries set in the Charter.

You can bet the police will be doing their job after the incident in BC. They won't be standing idly by or even enabling the suspects or perpetrators.

Their stated goal was the overthrow of the government by trying to affect a Constitutional Crisis. It speaks well to the integrity of our government that they did not give in. And if they weren't going to give in, no reason for them to be there. Bye bye. Truck around and find out.

[rookiepilot]

No.

You don't need the threat of extremist violence and the police weren't doing their jobs. Business owners were being harassed and losing money. Residents couldn't sleep. Conditions were unsanitary and dangerous.

There are many limits to freedom of speech set by precedents and they show that even non violent occupation of public property denying its free use to society far overstep the boundaries set in the Charter.

You can bet the police will be doing their job after the incident in BC. They won't be standing idly by or even enabling the suspects or perpetrators.

Their stated goal was the overthrow of the government by trying to affect a Constitutional Crisis. It speaks well to the integrity of our government that they did not give in. And if they weren't going to give in, no reason for them to be there. Bye bye. Truck around and find out.

I find it humorous all of the Liberal voters on this site have disappeared. Or changed teams. No one will admit to being an unabashed Liberal supporter.

The government of law and order, would’ve defused the situation far earlier. They wouldn’t have called millions of Canadians “homophobic racists with unacceptable views, that would should barely tolerate”. Well done! How to de escalate!

You can’t take back that kind of language.

BC:
There’s been 2 incidents in BC. Both violent. Both immediately disappeared from the news. Neither has had a single charge laid. Isn’t that interesting.

As for Ottawa, if sedition was the actual intent, lets see criminal charges. I am all for it.

Freezing bank accounts of donors who gave 50 bucks to them before they even reached Ottawa? Dictatorship.

When all the pilots here finally stop complaining and form a picket line at Pearson, it will be your bank account they freeze next. Think about it.

[rookiepilot]

Worst of the offenders….it appears were from Quebec.

Media narrative…..they were all Western Canadian based revolutionaries. Its only the West protesters that were labeled as unacceptable people.

Now the charges….and the soft approach to policing……make perfect sense.

Wonder how many charges were laid against Quebec based protestors vs the West.

How disgusting of this government. Everything is political!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freedo ... -1.6636737

(Saskatchewan based convoy leader farmer )

Claiming he only ever wanted to lead a peaceful protest against vaccine mandates, Barber told the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) inquiry investigating the convoy that he had nothing to do with a death threat directed at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.


Barber said these protesters, most of whom came from Quebec, wouldn't agree to his demand to make room for emergency vehicles to move through the core.

Steeve Charland — a spokesperson for a group called Les Farfadaas, a name that roughly translates to "elf" or "leprechaun" in English — testified under oath Tuesday that his outfit was not behind this occupation.

But documents presented at the commission show police intelligence had identified the group as the French-speaking demonstrators at Rideau and Sussex.

Police described Les Farfadaas as an "anti-government, quasi-separatist" group opposed to public health measures. They were also identified as the group least cooperative with law enforcement.

And Pelmet you are praising the Government’s response?

[pelmet]

On what criminal charges, exactly, justify a lengthy prison term?

Dig out your copy of the Criminal Code of Canada and take a gander. Part II - Offences Against Public Order is a good start; specifically one could take a look at Section 46, Subsection 2; Treason. Punishable upon conviction by life in prison...

Section 51: Intimidating Parliament or legislature. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of 14 years.

Section 59 - 62: Sedition. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum term of 14 years.

Section 63 - 69: Unlawful Assemblies and Riots. Punishable upon conviction by a maximum prison term of anywhere between 2 and 10 years...

There is an argument to be made, depending on the severity of the acts that one could end up facing charges under Part II.1 Terrorism; albeit it may be a bit of a stretch for the time being...

Despite the hysteria from the media directly comparing this protest with the Jan 6th event in DC — where serious charges were laid ——— one question ——

Were people charged with any of the above criminal offenses and I, and the rest of the world, somehow missed it?

Treason….no, intimidating parliament…..not sure how it is meant to be on interpreted, sedition…..no, terrorism…..no, unlawful assembly…..yes.

Bridge blockers would likely have other charges in my opinion.

Arrest record for all…….much deserved.

[pelmet]

Worst of the offenders….it appears were from Quebec.

Media narrative…..they were all Western Canadian based revolutionaries. Its only the West protesters that were labeled as unacceptable people.

Now the charges….and the soft approach to policing……make perfect sense.

Wonder how many charges were laid against Quebec based protestors vs the West.

How disgusting of this government. Everything is political!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freedo ... -1.6636737

(Saskatchewan based convoy leader farmer )

Claiming he only ever wanted to lead a peaceful protest against vaccine mandates, Barber told the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) inquiry investigating the convoy that he had nothing to do with a death threat directed at Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.


Barber said these protesters, most of whom came from Quebec, wouldn't agree to his demand to make room for emergency vehicles to move through the core.

Steeve Charland — a spokesperson for a group called Les Farfadaas, a name that roughly translates to "elf" or "leprechaun" in English — testified under oath Tuesday that his outfit was not behind this occupation.

But documents presented at the commission show police intelligence had identified the group as the French-speaking demonstrators at Rideau and Sussex.

Police described Les Farfadaas as an "anti-government, quasi-separatist" group opposed to public health measures. They were also identified as the group least cooperative with law enforcement.

And Pelmet you are praising the Government’s response?

There will be thousands of different stories for each person. If you were there and ignoring the clear warnings, you were committing a crime. Just because someone else did something worse doesn’t change what you did.

Just because the fake, politicized news has their typical fake narratives, doesn’t mean that we should allow what happened to happen without penalty.

It is like someone in a crime gang. The actions of others in the gang may result in charges in the activity you are willingly participating in.

Yes, I praise the specific act of invoking the Emergencies Act due to the overall situation to return law and order.

As for Steve the convoy organizer, now he is trying to pretend that he was the good guy and avoid charges. People have a tendency to do that after the fact.

[rookiepilot]

Declaration of the emergencies act was a gross failure of Government to deal with a relatively minor protest.

Suggest traveling in a few other countries, to get a context of what a major protest is — see Iran today.

They could have de escalated it at a dozen different points, instead they poured gasoline on the fire calling everyone homophobic racists who don’t belong in Canada. In essence. Pride of our fearless leader.

Then people really got mad, dug in, and then they did nothing until they finally panicked and declared a war measures act to freeze every granny’s bank account who gave 50 dollars. Should we charge and jail granny too now Pelmet?

Then all the lying started about foreign powers trying to overthrow The government. Where was the violent overthrow? Kidnapping of political leaders? Firebombs? Foreign invasions?

Oh. We’ve seen firebombs. In BC! No charges laid. No statement from the PM.

Do you like being lied to? I don’t.

I can see why you admire the Liberals Pelmet, they admire Chinas dictatorship.

[photofly]

I can see why you admire the Liberals Pelmet, they admire Chinas dictatorship.

Does producing this kind of incendiary rhetoric fulfill a need for you?

[pelmet]

Declaration of the emergencies act was a gross failure of Government to deal with a relatively minor protest.

Suggest traveling in a few other countries, to get a context of what a major protest is — see Iran today.

When huge factories are closing, it is not minor anymore. Of course, if it affected rookie's pocketbook, I suspect that he would have supported the Emergencies act.

The whole convoy thing exposed a lot of hypocrites and it isn't just the politicians.

Iran is irrelevant to the discussion.

[pelmet]

I can see why you admire the Liberals Pelmet, they admire Chinas dictatorship.

Does producing this kind of incendiary rhetoric fulfill a need for you?

Another incompetent argument from this poster. I have made very clear in multiple posts how much I hate Trudeau and the Liberals, despite your claim that I support them. I have little doubt that you have seen my posts about this over the years and therefore are intentionally misleading people. Unfortunately, your posts have no credibility.

I have made clear that I believe in law and order whether it was pipeline protesters blocking the economy or convoy protesters. This is unlike the hypocrites who support one but not the other depending on their stand on a particular issue.

Hopefully, without the typical political response from those unable to comprehend a higher meaning......It is called Peace, Order, and Good Government as stated in our constitution.

As for China, I have been saying they are a threat since at least Tiananmen Square but few listen to my common sense and we have had policies stregnthening them for decades. Same with my identification long ago of post-Soviet Russia as still being a threat to us. Break up of both nations has been my longterm desire for both of them as the optimal outcome(1989 for Russia was not nearly enough). Despite the tragic rise of socialists in our midst masquerading as woke, the world is extremely lucky to have had the anglo-based countries that have created the rules-based order and freedoms that those of other nations, with people who actually believe in freedoms, have been able to participate in as allies. But freedom does not mean one can do anything. We have speed limits, we have tax evasion laws, we have an endless amount of rules and regulations for noise, littering, and cleaning up dog poop. We may not agree with them all but the law is the law. Just because you don't like it doesn't make this country anything like Iran or China.

Now that we have had Iran and China mentioned, I await the inevitable Godwin's Law to be invoked by someone.

[rookiepilot]

Declaration of the emergencies act was a gross failure of Government to deal with a relatively minor protest.

Suggest traveling in a few other countries, to get a context of what a major protest is — see Iran today.

When huge factories are closing, it is not minor anymore. Of course, if it affected rookie's pocketbook, I suspect that he would have supported the Emergencies act.

The whole convoy thing exposed a lot of hypocrites and it isn't just the politicians.

Iran is irrelevant to the discussion.

So we should give the government a “good job all around then? Handled perfectly?

Hey I am taking your admiration for this government directly from your own posts. Can’t have it both ways.

We’ve had 2 violent incidents in BC, BTW. Everyone….crickets. Interesting the hypocrisy on “violence”.

[pelmet]

Declaration of the emergencies act was a gross failure of Government to deal with a relatively minor protest.

Suggest traveling in a few other countries, to get a context of what a major protest is — see Iran today.

When huge factories are closing, it is not minor anymore. Of course, if it affected rookie's pocketbook, I suspect that he would have supported the Emergencies act.

The whole convoy thing exposed a lot of hypocrites and it isn't just the politicians.

Iran is irrelevant to the discussion.

So we should give the government a “good job all around then? Handled perfectly?

Hey I am taking your admiration for this government directly from your own posts. Can’t have it both ways.

You lose credibility because you know that I hate this government and the people in it but agree with one thing that they did, at least the second time we had economic blockades. I hated when they didn't do anything about the previous one.

I suppose some have difficulty comprehending such a thing.

Handled perfectly, obviously not. Support using the Emergencies Act....Yes.

[rookiepilot]

When huge factories are closing, it is not minor anymore. Of course, if it affected rookie's pocketbook, I suspect that he would have supported the Emergencies act.

The whole convoy thing exposed a lot of hypocrites and it isn't just the politicians.

Iran is irrelevant to the discussion.

So we should give the government a “good job all around then? Handled perfectly?

Hey I am taking your admiration for this government directly from your own posts. Can’t have it both ways.

You lose credibility because you know that I hate this government and the people in it but agree with one thing that they did, at least the second time we had economic blockades. I hated when they didn't do anything about the previous one.

I suppose some have difficulty comprehending such a thing.

Handled perfectly, obviously not. Support using the Emergencies Act....Yes.

So if I check back, I’ll find all kinds of posts from you, Mr law and order, decrying the multiple church fires in western Canada? How many were there?

I predict I’d find the same amount of comments as Trudeau made.

Crickets.

Know what thats called.