PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE 2022 PUBLIC ORDER EMERGENCY WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

The Ottawa Coalition sought standing before the Public Order Emergency Commission (“POEC”) to address the circumstances that led to the declaration of the public order emergency, including the failure of law enforcement to effectively manage the occupation in Ottawa. [...] In the submissions that follow, the Ottawa Coalition will summarize the evidence on (1) the circumstances that led to the crisis in downtown Ottawa; (2) the harm caused to Ottawa residents and businesses; and (3) various attempts to use other resources and tools to end the Ottawa occupation. [...] Lucas, starting on the 29th the OPS became increasingly overwhelmed and he and the National Capital Region Command Centre were “drinking from the firehose.”35 Sloly told that Commission that it was more like drinking from several dozen firehoses due to the unexpected number of convoys that arrived, the -35C temperature, the high levels of fatigue being experienced by OPS officers and the significa. [...] The nature and scope of the crisis is necessary for the Commission’s analysis of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Federal Government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act. [...] Residents described a profound sense of anxiety driven by the potential of a major fire and the risk that emergency services vehicles would be unable to access the scene due to the convoy vehicles blocking the streets.85 Ms De La Ronde told the Commission: “I was concerned because there was the smell, and I was informed as well about gas spills on the street, that there was open bonfires, that the.