OTTAWA—The so-called “Freedom Convoy” occupation in the nation’s capital could have been smaller and easier to manage, if not for then-police chief Peter Sloly’s direction to not concede anything to the protesters, the Emergencies Act inquiry heard Tuesday. Questions have also been raised about how Ottawa police used specialized mediation teams during the occupation. Marcel Beaudin told the inquiry such teams could have been better used to reduce the number of protesters. Even so, Beaudin told the inquiry he saw no evidence of Sloly interfering in how these teams were working. Robert Bernier, who also testified Tuesday, gave evidence that he saw a “bizarre disconnect” between the OPP intelligence and Ottawa police preparations for the convoy protests.

Source: thestar October 27, 2022 05:38 UTC