Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) intelligence officer Pat Morris testified he was concerned with comments made by public figures and journalists on the Freedom Convoy that were "not premised in fact."."I would be just another person with a subjective perspective in this case, except for the fact that from my perspective, I was leading the criminal intelligence collection of information and the production of criminal intelligence in relation to these events," Morris said on Wednesday at the Public Order Emergency Commission..During the Commission, an email Morris sent to another OPP officer February 22 was shared. In the email, Morris said he repeatedly heard some police leaders make "outlandish, inaccurate claims about the activity that has occurred," which were "not based in any intelligence or evidence that I am privy to.".Morris wrote he witnessed public figures being heralded as "experts" on the Freedom Convoy, when in reality they were "highly politicized, hyperbolic, self-serving and overwhelmingly informed by media editorials."."This sensationalism is leading to a quickening pace of decision-making and public discourse in terms of what should and should not occur," Morris said.."By way of example, I see a marked increase in the conversation of extremists participating in these events and Canadians with extreme ideology leading the charge. Although there are exceptions, I have not seen the evidence of this.".In the email, Morris says he saw no evidence of extremists during the Ambassador Bridge blockade or during events in Toronto, and said the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had "very little" activity to report on. "."So I do not know where the political figures are acquiring information or intelligence on the extent of extremist involvement.".Morris wrote discussions about the Freedom Convoy had become "deeply polarized" with public figures and media outlets citing extremism as the prime catalyst for the protest.."But there are significant differences between seeing political dissent or opponents as extreme — which is a highly subjective measure — and the legal connotations of ideologically motivated violent extremism or terrorism.".During Morris' cross-examination, he was asked by the Democracy Fund whether he thought politicians and the media were "responsible for a certain amount of disinformation and misinformation with respect to these protests." Morris paused before saying, "I'm just trying to articulate this properly.".Morris said he was in a "unique situation" to understand what was transpiring on the ground of the Freedom Convoy. ."So when I read accounts the state of Russia had something to do with it, or this was a result of American influence, either financially or ideologically, or that Donald Trump was behind it, or that it was un-Canadian or the people participating were un-Canadian and they were extremists, I found it to be problematic, he said..Morris went on to say that media coverage of the Freedom Convoy was slanted, "on both sides." He said some journalists in their reporting on the protest seemed to be attempting to "confirm a worldview" as opposed to reporting the facts.."That's what's important to me because people, including law enforcement officers, officers are informed by that information," he said. " And I saw that information, those assertions of foreign influence, monies, etc., being played out by a number of people. The labeling was problematic to me.".When questioned by Freedom Convoy lawyer Brendan Miller, Morris also admitted the OPP had no credible intelligence of espionage, sabotage, threats of physical violence, or damage to property that might be committed by individuals with political, religious or ideological motivations.
