Members of the Canadian Armed Forces march at a parade in Calgary on July 8, 2016. An email from the Minister of Defence's press secretary suggests the military knew of seven to eight CAF members' involvement in the self-styled 'Freedom Convoy' protest.(Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)Emails released through a public inquiry suggest federal Liberal political aides were scrambling earlier this year to figure out the extent to which members of the Canadian Armed Forces were supporting the self-described "Freedom Convoy" protests that had gridlocked downtown Ottawa.
The internal communications are among thousands of documents submitted to the Public Order Emergency Commission, which is looking at the Liberal government's decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to end the demonstrations in February.
On Feb. 15, one day after the Emergencies Act was invoked, Defence Minister Anita Anand's press secretary, Daniel Minden, emailed fellow political staff in the offices of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
"Please see this internal list of CAF members allegedly involved in the convoy so far," Minden wrote.
The email goes on to provide a "list of known members connected to protests," including five who are specifically named and two who are not. Those not named include a special forces soldier based in Ottawa and a civilian Defence Department employee.
The internal communications are among thousands of documents submitted to the Public Order Emergency Commission, which is looking at the Liberal government's decision to invoke the Emergencies Act to end the demonstrations in February.
On Feb. 15, one day after the Emergencies Act was invoked, Defence Minister Anita Anand's press secretary, Daniel Minden, emailed fellow political staff in the offices of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
"Please see this internal list of CAF members allegedly involved in the convoy so far," Minden wrote.
The email goes on to provide a "list of known members connected to protests," including five who are specifically named and two who are not. Those not named include a special forces soldier based in Ottawa and a civilian Defence Department employee.
All names are redacted in copies of the emails provided to the commission as "Personal Info."
The list also includes the individuals' location, the action the military was taking at the moment and the results of any actions that had already been taken.
The list appears to have sparked a strong reaction from Mendicino's director of communications, Alexander Cohen, who used an expletive in his response to Minden, saying: "How the f--- many soldiers are in the convoy?"
"7-8 that we know of," Minden replied.
Minden and Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
The email does not provide specifics about what those on the list were accused of doing or what rules they are alleged to have broken. READ MORE...
The list also includes the individuals' location, the action the military was taking at the moment and the results of any actions that had already been taken.
The list appears to have sparked a strong reaction from Mendicino's director of communications, Alexander Cohen, who used an expletive in his response to Minden, saying: "How the f--- many soldiers are in the convoy?"
"7-8 that we know of," Minden replied.
Minden and Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
The email does not provide specifics about what those on the list were accused of doing or what rules they are alleged to have broken. READ MORE...
