Mendicino vows to work with Emergencies Act commissioner, but won't commit to share cabinet secrets

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says the government is committed to full transparency as the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act to end the 'freedom convoy' protests gets underway. But he wouldn't commit to sharing confidential cabinet documents about the decision.

In an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday, Mendicino said Ottawa is giving Justice Paul Rouleau, tapped with leading the inquiry, “broad powers” to determine if triggering the Act was justifiable.

“We've been transparent all along and we're now fulfilling our obligations under the Emergencies Act by launching a full scale public inquiry which grants Justice Rouleau broad powers to compel witnesses, to compel documents, to compel information, including classified documents,” he said.

“Our desire is to work very collaboratively with him.”

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of the independent “Public Order Emergency Commission,” which will be ongoing for the better part of the year.