Steve Kanellakos Witness Summary Day 3 of the Emergencies Act Public Inquiry

Witness Summary Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa City manager Day 3 of Emergencies Act Public Inquiry. Key testimony from Day 3 of Public Hearings, October 17, 2022 Public Inquiry for the Invocation of the Emergencies Act.

Steve Kanellakos: “Under the assumption that they were going to leave after the weekend, we all thought it went quite well” “there wasn’t any violence, people were protesting, it was managed, there were no major incidents other than the honking”.

Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa City manager says that former police “chief Sloly didn’t think he had the legal authority to prevent trucks from coming into the core based on their Charter rights.”

City Manager Steve Kanellakos testifies that the Provincial Government viewed the freedom convoy in Ottawa as a law enforcement matter that “could be dealt with through existing authorities.”

City Manager Steve Kanellakos testifies that Ottawa police supported the agreement between the city and the convoy to move trucks out of residential areas and onto Wellington St. “There was no other place to put the trucks,” Kanellakos said. “The discussion (with protest organizers) was that we wanted to reduce the footprint in the area, to get them out of the neighborhoods.”

Paul Champ, Ottawa Coalition lawyer stated there was an incident at the Chateau Laurier where firetrucks had difficulty getting to. Ottawa city manager Steve Kanellakos responded “That’s actually not true.” Kanellakos confirms a “gas truck” was found parked in an underground parking lot beneath the Rideau Centre, but says it wasn’t a serious risk and danger. “I can’t speak for the Rideau Centre,” Kanellakos says when told mall management thought it was dangerous.

Ottawa city manager Steve Kanellakos says that tow truck operators and by-law officers were not assaulted by protesters while enforcing by-laws and removing trucks from downtown Ottawa. Ottawa City Manager Steve Kanellakos says he’s aware of no issues of equipment damage or assaults against tow truck drivers who did remove vehicles.