Patricia Ferguson Witness Summary Day 6 of the Emergencies Act Public Inquiry

Witness Summary Patricia Ferguson, Acting Deputy Chief of the Ottawa Police Service, Day 6 of Emergencies Act Public Inquiry. Key testimony from Day 6 of Public Hearings, October 20, 2022 Public Inquiry for the Invocation of the Emergencies Act.

On the Integrated Planning Team: Patricia Ferguson said she doesn’t believe former chief Peter Sloly wanted help from the Ontario Provincial Police to deal with the Freedom Convoy.

Patricia Ferguson, Acting Deputy Chief says Ottawa police told city officials that those driving heavy trucks had a Charter right to protest in the downtown area based on “decades of past experience in managing events, and that we have allowed it in the past, and we were going to again in this case”.

Patricia Ferguson testifies at the Public Inquiry that they were receiving fluctuating numbers on the number of large trucks coming to Ottawa, and that there was no contingency plan for long-term protests.

Acting Deputy Chief Patricia Ferguson testifies that the Emergencies Act wasn’t necessary during the convoy in Ottawa, she said that “We were moving in there regardless, but the Emergencies Act was helpful”.