Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister of Public Safety, left, and Dominic Rochon, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cybersecurity Branch at Public Safety Canada, appear at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA – Canadian diplomatic officials say there were serious concerns about the effects of last winter’s “Freedom Convoy” protests on Canada’s international reputation and its ability to attract trade.
Their testimony and documents presented at the Public Order Emergency Commission suggest Canadian diplomats were receiving forceful communications from a United States government anxious to resume international trade at border blockades set up by protesters.
A summary of interviews with Global Affairs Canada officials says U.S. officials made it clear that border closures were a major issue and blockades were undermining Canada’s efforts to promote itself as a dependable trading partner.
The summary says Cindy Termorshuizen, a deputy minister who testified before the commission, felt that the government’s use of emergency powers to clear protests addressed the concerns and helped assuage international doubts about Canada’s reliability.
The commission is investigating the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 for reasons that included threats to Canada’s economy and international trade.
The decision came three days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden in a conversation that Termorshuizen says touched on U.S. donations to the Canadian protesters and American callers disrupting Ottawa’s emergency services line.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2022.
