By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED October 20, 2022 3:09pmET
Public Order Emergency Commission
A senior Ottawa police official admitted today the force could have made better use of intelligence suggesting the Freedom Convoy would seek an extended occupation.
"I suppose we would have given more credibility to the information and intelligence telling us that there was a faction that were planning on staying for a much longer period of time," said Acting Deputy Chief Patricia Ferguson while testifying at the public inquiry into the federal emergency declaration.
Ferguson acknowledged that Ottawa police erred in assuming the Freedom Convoy would be a short demonstration despite intelligence suggesting a larger shutdown was being planned.
After the first weekend the force realized what was thought to be a protest was instead an occupation, Ferguson testified.
But no new plan was in place five days later. And former chief Peter Sloly was bypassing the chain of command to direct operations and propose action beyond the Ottawa Police Service's staffing capacity, Ferguson said while being questioned by commission counsel.
Meanwhile, a trio of groups with standing at the inquiry have formally requested that Commissioner Paul Rouleau call Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones, who was provincial solicitor general during the occupation and blockades.
In the House
Watch today's question period:
This evening MPs hold a take-note debate on mental health.
A take-note debate sees the House switch to a Committee of the Whole. MPs can speak as many times as they wish – 10 minutes at a time with up to 10 minutes of questions.
Ahead of that the Conservatives have an opposition day motion calling for a home heating exemption from the federal carbon tax.
The full motion:
That, given that,
(i) one-tenth of Canadians heat their homes during Canada's cold winter months with heating oil or propane heat because there are no alternatives,
(ii) Canada is the only G7 country to have raised fuel taxes during this period of record high global fuel prices,
(iii) energy analysts have predicted that Canadians could see their home heating bills rise by 50 to 100 percent on average this winter,
(iv) the Liberal Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador wrote to the federal Liberal government on September 2, 2022, asking for a carbon tax exemption on home heating fuels and stated: "A year ago today, the maximum price of furnace oil in the Province was 97.91 cents per litre. Today's price is 155.70, which is an increase of nearly 60 per cent. Your proposed federal carbon tax increase on furnace oil would result in an additional 17.38 cents plus HST. Added to today's price, [the carbon tax] would result in a total cost increase of 80 per cent compared to one year ago", punishing rural people in Newfoundland and Labrador forced to heat with furnace oil,
the House express its agreement with the comments of the Liberal Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and call on the government to exempt all forms of home heating fuel from the carbon tax for all Canadians.
In Committee
Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay faces questions on the allegation his department gave an unsolicited offer of medical assistance in dying to a veteran. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and other organizations brief the status of women committee on the mental health of young women and girls. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT
Mark Weber, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, discusses the ArriveCAN program with members of the government operations committee. 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT
WATCH: Defence minister questioned after announcement in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Defence Minister Anita Anand takes questions after announcing that Logistik Unicorp has been awarded a $3.7 billion contract to provide footwear and clothing for more than 160,000 Canadian military personnel for a period of nearly 20 years. (no interpretation)
WATCH: Conservative MP on nuclear energy in emissions reduction and energy security
Corey Tochor, the Conservative associate critic for natural resources and the party's special adviser on nuclear energy, discusses the role of Canadian nuclear energy in reducing carbon emissions and addressing global energy needs. He is joined by Dr. Chris Keefer, an emergency medicine physician and the president of Canadians for Nuclear Energy.
WATCH: NDP MPs discuss protection for railway workers
Taylor Bachrach, the NDP critic for transport, and Alexandre Boulerice, the party's deputy leader and critic for labour, call for greater protection and rights for railway workers. They are joined at the news conference on Parliament Hill by Pamela Fraser and Lori Desrochers, who have both lost loved ones in railway incidents.
WATCH: Federal Greens discuss potential water crises in British Columbia
Interim Green Leader Amita Kuttner and MP Elizabeth May discuss water scarcity issues in British Columbia. Following months of drought, a state of local emergency has been declared along the province’s Sunshine Coast prohibiting non-essential companies from using drinking water.
