Messages between a senior member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s staff and Public Safety Minister Marco Medicino’s press secretary on Jan. 24 were released by the public inquiry looking into the government’s use of the emergency law. In the exchange, adviser to the premier Mary-Liz Power said Mendicino’s office was considering asking the minister to do media interviews about “some of the more extreme elements” of the protest. “I think there could be an opportunity to tap into this growing trucker narrative,” the text said. Power said they would use a similar message to the one used in response to the January 6 attacks in Washington, D.C. He suggested Mendicino could speak to how the language of some convoy organizers was troubling and should be taken seriously, but warned he would have to be careful to ensure it did not appear the government was directing the police. Medicino’s press secretary at the time, Alex Cohen, responded by saying that Medicino wanted to wait a day or two because there was a risk that if they came down too hard, “he might drive the crazy.” On January 26, Trudeau denounced the “fringe” views of people supporting the protests. “The small fringe minority of people headed to Ottawa who have objectionable views that they express do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and moving forward to protect each other of another is the best way to continue to secure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country,” Trudeau said at the time. Those comments helped mobilize protesters, according to police reports, and being part of a “fringe minority” soon became a point of pride among protesters in Ottawa. The protests officially began near Parliament Hill on January 29. The Trudeau government invoked the emergency law on Feb. 14, arguing that its temporary and emergency powers were needed to end weeks of noisy protests in downtown Ottawa and blockades at border crossings. The Public Order Emergency Committee is tasked with determining whether the government was justified in activating the legislation that was never used. He is holding public hearings in Ottawa until November 25. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 31, 2022.
Today’s installment of “reading federal texts” in POEC. The following is an excerpt from a conversation between a senior PMO official and Mendicino’s press department. It was reported by the legal representative of the convoy organizers, trying to get Sloly to comment on whether it is incorrect information. He would not comment. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/G5mosA8Deq — Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) October 31, 2022
