A comprehensive external review of the RCMP’s response to the 2022 Freedom Convoy describes the “highly politicized” invocation of the Emergencies Act. The 92-page National After-Action Review, codenamed Project NATTERJACK and led by retired Assistant Commissioner Eric Slinn, reveals significant shortcomings in four main sectors: command, intelligence sharing, mobilization, and employee wellness. The review, prompted by the invocation of the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022, details the "politicization" of the police response, particularly in Ottawa, where the RCMP and local police forces faced pressure from the federal government, with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the helm, to crack down on protesters.A federal judge in January 2024 ruled the Trudeau Liberals’ invocation of the Act which was revoked after nine days on February 23, 2022, was both “unnecessary” and “unlawful.”.The report outlines the politicization of the police response to the protesters and candidly admits government officials’ influence steeped into the RCMP’s response and the invocation of the Act. The RCMP faced intense, misplaced pressure to resolve Ottawa blockades, though the Ottawa Police Service was the primary authority.“Interviewees and survey respondents felt that the police response to the convoy events were highly politicized,” states the report.“This was particularly the case with respect to the convoy events in [Ottawa], where various elected officials and senior Government of Canada officials were of the view that it was the RCMP’s responsibility to resolve the blockades in Ottawa.”“The RCMP in [Ottawa] carries out Federal Policing activities which includes, but is not limited to, protective policing and national security investigations.”“As the police of jurisdiction in Ottawa, Ottawa Police Service has the primary responsibility to manage the police response to all demonstration activity. The RCMP can provide support to Ottawa Police Service when assistance is requested. However, the RCMP cannot assume command and control of the police response to demonstration activity as some officials suggested during the convoy event.”The RCMP steps in to “assume a lead investigative role” when there is a “suspected threat to national security,” states the report.“However, the criminal investigation remains separate from the police response to manage the demonstration activity taking place within a police jurisdiction's area of responsibility.”.The report also acknowledges the shaking of public trust in institutions after the invocation of the Act and the need to restore public trust after the freezing of bank accounts of those involved in the protest.The RCMP maintains donors to the convoy did not have their accounts frozen. The Mounties further distance themselves from the responsibility of financial freezes, asserting the onus was on the financial institutions..The RCMP’s use of command structure was inconsistent and there were intelligence sharing gaps where information was neither consistently timely or effectively disseminated to frontline officers, states the report.Further, the report cited training deficiencies, where only 65% of officers were prepared for public order tactics, and critical weapons certifications outdated.“There is little to no public order and/or tactical training for general duty Regular Members who are not a part of Tactical Support Groups or Public Order Units,” states the report.The report clarifies that demonstrations alone do not constitute national security threats warranting RCMP lead.“Various elected officials and senior Government of Canada officials were of the view that it was the RCMP’s responsibility to resolve the blockades in Ottawa,” discloses the review.
