Emergencies Act hearings end with final words on transparency, accountability cdnpoli
A panel of experts offered insight into a key issue the Public Order Emergency Commission will have to decide: whether the federal government has been forthcoming enough about why cabinet felt legally justified to invoke what is supposed to be a measure of last resort.Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
“It would be hard to say that it does not affect the ability of the commission to reach a conclusion,” former CSIS director Ward Elcock said, when asked about the impact of redacting documents and otherwise withholding information from the inquiry.tap here to see other videos from our teamThere are, however, issues of national security, cabinet confidence and, indeed, solicitor-client privilege that the government is “unable to make public,” he said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 in response to the weeks-long occupation of downtown Ottawa by “Freedom Convoy” protesters opposed to COVID-19 public health restrictions and the federal government, as well as similar protests blockading land borders across the country, halting hundreds of millions of dollars in trade.
That problem could be solved in the future by meeting the public halfway, said University of British Columbia law professor Hoi Kong, whose expertise is constitutional law. “One of the reasons for having accountability mechanisms is because you want the decision-makers, in the moment when they actually have to make a decision like this, to have like a little bird sitting on their shoulder saying, ‘One day, someone who’s not under this time pressure will look at what you’ve done,”’ said Kim Lane Scheppele, a professor at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion | Danielle Smith and Justin Trudeau both turned to extraordinary measures. Here’s the difference.DuaneBratt: Danielle Smith and Justin Trudeau both turned to extraordinary measures. Here’s the difference via torontostar
Read more »
Government to un-redact text messages, notes of PMO staff at Emergencies Act inquiryLawyers for 'Freedom Convoy' organizers have won their bid to get access to unredacted versions of 20 documents at the Public Order Emergency Act.
Read more »
Emergencies Act inquiry urged to recommend greater political oversight of policePolitical scientist says there is virtue in defining difference between government oversight of law enforcement and independence of police.
Read more »
Government to un-redact text messages, notes of PMO staff at Emergencies Act inquiry | National NewswatchNational Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views. Make it a daily habit.
Read more »
Emergencies Act inquiry urged to recommend greater political oversight of policePolitical scientist says there is virtue in defining difference between government oversight of law enforcement and independence of police.
Read more »
Emergencies Act: The inquiry's most shocking revelationsThis week on “It’s Political,” we dig into the government’s rationale for invoking the Emergencies Act to end last winter's 'Freedom Convoy' protests
Read more »