Media and political leaders falsely characterized the Freedom Convoy as an extremist movement, according to confidential emails between Ontario Provincial Police commanders..There was no evidence convoy members were anything but "political protesters," said one commander..“It is not an ‘extremist’ movement,” wrote Supt. Patrick Morris, commander of the Provincial Police Intelligence Bureau. “It is not comprised of ideologically motivated violent extremists. The actual leaders are not violent extremists with histories of violent criminal acts.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, superintendent Morris made his remarks in a Feb. 22 email to Chuck Cox, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police..“I have consistently viewed this movement as a political entity amalgamated by opposition to several factors, i.e. vaccine mandates,” wrote Morris..“I see a marked increase in the conversation of extremists participating in these events and Canadians with extreme ideologies leading the charge,” wrote Morris. “Although there are some exceptions, I have not seen the evidence of this.”.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the time described protesters as “conspiracy theorists about microchips, about God knows what else that go with tin foil hats,” adding: “There is no right to incite violence, to perform acts of violence or to spew hatred.”.“Anyone who is part of this group who is disgusted by what the folks protesting alongside are doing need to step up and take responsibility,” said Trudeau..The Prime Minister on January 26 told reporters: “The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians.”.Morris questioned political condemnation of the Freedom Convoy. “I do not know where the political figures are acquiring information or intelligence on the extent of extremist involvement,” wrote Morris..“The issue has become deeply politicized and political figures and polarized media cite sources of extremism as the prime catalyst but there are significant differences between seeing political dissent or opponents as ‘extreme,’ a highly subjective measure, and the legal connotations of ideologically motivated violent extremism or terrorism.”.Morris in a February 2 email to Deputy Commissioner Cox questioned urgent demands for heightened surveillance of protesters..“The potential targets are not engaged in criminal activity nor do we have reasonable grounds to believe they will be,” wrote Morris. “They may oppose government policy and engage in protest.”.Morris in October 19 testimony at the Public Order Emergency Commission said he found no evidence the Freedom Convoy was armed or violent..“The lack of violent crime was shocking,” said Morris. “I mean, even in the arrest and charges considering the whole thing in totality.”.“I want to be clear on this,” said Morris. “We produced no intelligence to indicate these individuals would be armed. There has been a lot of hyperbole around that.”
Media and political leaders falsely characterized the Freedom Convoy as an extremist movement, according to confidential emails between Ontario Provincial Police commanders..There was no evidence convoy members were anything but "political protesters," said one commander..“It is not an ‘extremist’ movement,” wrote Supt. Patrick Morris, commander of the Provincial Police Intelligence Bureau. “It is not comprised of ideologically motivated violent extremists. The actual leaders are not violent extremists with histories of violent criminal acts.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, superintendent Morris made his remarks in a Feb. 22 email to Chuck Cox, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police..“I have consistently viewed this movement as a political entity amalgamated by opposition to several factors, i.e. vaccine mandates,” wrote Morris..“I see a marked increase in the conversation of extremists participating in these events and Canadians with extreme ideologies leading the charge,” wrote Morris. “Although there are some exceptions, I have not seen the evidence of this.”.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the time described protesters as “conspiracy theorists about microchips, about God knows what else that go with tin foil hats,” adding: “There is no right to incite violence, to perform acts of violence or to spew hatred.”.“Anyone who is part of this group who is disgusted by what the folks protesting alongside are doing need to step up and take responsibility,” said Trudeau..The Prime Minister on January 26 told reporters: “The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians.”.Morris questioned political condemnation of the Freedom Convoy. “I do not know where the political figures are acquiring information or intelligence on the extent of extremist involvement,” wrote Morris..“The issue has become deeply politicized and political figures and polarized media cite sources of extremism as the prime catalyst but there are significant differences between seeing political dissent or opponents as ‘extreme,’ a highly subjective measure, and the legal connotations of ideologically motivated violent extremism or terrorism.”.Morris in a February 2 email to Deputy Commissioner Cox questioned urgent demands for heightened surveillance of protesters..“The potential targets are not engaged in criminal activity nor do we have reasonable grounds to believe they will be,” wrote Morris. “They may oppose government policy and engage in protest.”.Morris in October 19 testimony at the Public Order Emergency Commission said he found no evidence the Freedom Convoy was armed or violent..“The lack of violent crime was shocking,” said Morris. “I mean, even in the arrest and charges considering the whole thing in totality.”.“I want to be clear on this,” said Morris. “We produced no intelligence to indicate these individuals would be armed. There has been a lot of hyperbole around that.”
