Attorney General David Lametti used emergency powers against the Freedom Convoy on fears protesters would block railways, according to Department of Justice records. Briefing notes did not explain why cabinet allowed 2020 First Nations blockades of railways without invoking the Emergencies Act..“Threats were made to block railway lines which would result in significant disruptions,” staff wrote in April 23 briefing materials for Attorney General Lametti. Railways “serve customers in almost every part of the Canadian economy,” said the department..“The result of a railway blockade would be significant,” wrote staff. “Canada’s freight rail industry transports more than $310 billion worth of goods each year on a network that runs from coast to coast.”.Freedom Convoy protesters did not blockade railways. Cabinet invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14. No similar action was taken to end 2020 rail protests by First Nations..According to Blacklock's Reporter, month-long blockades dated from February 7, 2020 in support of Wet’suwet’en First Nation demonstrations over a gas pipeline. The blockades cost $283 million and resulted in more than 1,000 layoffs, according to a 2020 Parliamentary Budget Office report. VIA Rail alone blamed the indigenous protest for a $33.6 million operating loss..Federal regulators at the time counted more than 50 blockades across the country including a camp on the Canadian National Railway main line at Belleville, Ontario, a Canadian Pacific Rail line south of Montréal, Quebec and multiple blockades in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Protesters also blocked cross-border bridges at Cornwall and Sault Ste.-Marie, Ontario..“The protest blockades have significantly worsened rail service at this time when the rail system was already experiencing strain,” the Department of Agriculture wrote in a 2020 briefing note. Staff complained of “significant vessel lineups at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.”.The blockades ended after then-Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller met with protesters and the Government of British Columbia pledged First Nations Elders a $7.2 million grant for work on land claims..Attorney General Lametti’s department in briefing materials also expressed fears the Freedom Convoy would turn violent. Staff acknowledged they had no evidence..“Two bomb threats were made to Vancouver hospitals and numerous suspicious packages containing rhetoric that references the hanging of politicians and potentially noxious substances were sent to offices of Members of Parliament in Nova Scotia,” wrote the Department of Justice. “A link to the convoy has not yet been established in either case,” it added..“Ideologically motivated violent extremism adherents may feel empowered by the level of disorder resulting from the protests,” wrote staff. “Violent online rhetoric, increased threats against public officials and the physical presence of ideological extremists at protests also indicate there is a risk of serious violence and the potential for lone actor attackers to conduct terrorism attacks.”.No Freedom Convoy protester was charged with terrorism. Of the 230 people arrested, a total of 119 faced charges, typically mischief..Cabinet members are due to testify at a judicial inquiry into use of the Emergencies Act. Hearings originally scheduled to end by October 31 will now be extended to November 25. A February 6 deadline to complete a report remains in place.
