Thread by @TondaMacC

New thread for testimony by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

LeBlanc is a rare witness to testify, or even start off in French. (French has been conspicuously absent at this inquiry.)

Oh, maybe it won't last.
Inquiry lawyer will ask in English.

LeBlanc is asked about his sharing of Jason Kenney's views w/ Mendicino and Alghabra:
“Your guy has really screwed the pooch.”
“The trucker vax policy is obviously just dumb political theatre. Calling them all Nazis hasn’t exactly helped. ..

Kenney cont'd: And now the provinces are holding the bag on enforcement. I can’t get any heavy equipment from private vendors to move these freakin trucks off the border because the crazies are making death threats, & you guys turned down our request for army equipment to help us

Kenney cont'd: “Because apparently the Government of Canada doesn’t really care about the international border being closed 🤔
“But don’t worry, the rcmp commander in Alberta just told me proudly that he has secured some psychologist to do a profile assessment of the protesters.

Kenney cont'd: I said ‘that’s great news, Deputy Commissioner.’ Do any of them know how to drive a tow truck.’ J”

LeBlanc says he took Kenney's text message as he "adequately expressed his frustration."

LeBlanc says they never told the premiers on Feb. 13 the FMM call would be about EA because they didn't want leaks, it would have been on morning shows, and noted there was risk of inflammatory response to an indication that govt would invoke EA.

LeBlanc’s evidence is that the decision had not been made before that premiers meeting, despite Lucki’s text to Sloly that the EA would be invoked.

He says “we viewed” ongoing discussions as consultations w premiers that led to the invocation of the EA. Says Trudeau was genuinely asking their views. All premiers had unlimited chance to share views. Trudeau at end said he had not made up his mind yet about EA invocation.

A dramatic ejection, a libel warning, and claims of government conspiracy — a “Freedom Convoy” lawyer took the main stage during a strange and tense hearing at the ongoing #EmergenciesAct inquiry on Tuesday. Latest from @aballinga and me:
thestar.com/politics/feder…

LeBlanc says "certainly" the protest in Ottawa became a national problem; it's the national capital, and "As convoy became more entrenched, and a flashpoint and rallying point for different participants the level of a public order emergency escalated."

adjourned- with warning tomorrow's gonna be longer