Emergencies Act Inquiry Commissioner: Focus Is on Government Actions, Not Protesters

The commissioner presiding over the inquiry into the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act says the commission’s work will revolve around the mandate granted by Parliament, rather than the one given by cabinet which focuses on protesters’ actions. “While this inquiry will deal with a wide range of issues, its focus will remain squarely on the decision of the federal government,” said commissioner Paul Rouleau during his remarks opening the public hearings phase of the inquiry in Ottawa. He said the mandate from Parliament is one of “public accountability, the public’s legitimate right to know why the government proclaimed an emergency and whether the actions it took were appropriate.”