Here’s who is testifying next at Emergencies Act public inquiry

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This article was published 17/10/2022 (800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – An inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to clear the “Freedom Convoy” protest in February is hearing first-hand testimony from top government and police officials.

The hearings are expected to run six weeks and include testimony from 65 witnesses, including government officials, police officers and convoy organizers.

Here are the next six witnesses on the list, all of whom are expected to appear before the commission this week:

– Mayor Jim Watson, the city’s longest-serving mayor. Watson isn’t seeking another term in a municipal election next week.

– Coun. Diane Deans, the former chair of Ottawa’s police services board. Deans, who isn’t running for re-election, was a vocal opponent of the convoy protest and clashed with Watson over how to deal with it. She was ousted from the police services board by councillors two days after the feds declared an emergency.

– Patricia Ferguson, acting deputy Ottawa police chief, who was the operational lead throughout the protest.

– Three officials from the Ontario Provincial Police: Craig Abrams, Carson Pardy and Pat Morris.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2022.