Alberta to participate in federal Emergencies Act inquiry

Alberta’s government will be participating in the federal Emergencies Act inquiry starting on Thursday.

In a Wednesday afternoon statement, Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said the province was granted full standing to actively participate in all aspects of the inquiry.

Public hearings are set to begin this Thursday in downtown Ottawa and will run to the end of November, according to the Public Order Emergency Commission. More than 60 witnesses are expected to testify, which includes high-profile protesters, law enforcement, cabinet ministers and people impacted by the occupation.

Previously, the Federal Court of Canada granted Alberta intervener status in four legal challenges against the Emergencies Act. It would allow the government of Alberta to intervene on non-constitutional and constitutional issues raised before the court.

It also comes after former premier Jason Kenney filed a request for a judicial review of the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act in February. Kenney had always been critical of the Emergencies Act, which was invoked by the federal government in response to convoy protests in Ottawa.

He called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the act “disproportionate” and “unnecessary,” claiming the province already had the legislative tools necessary to stop the blockades. Kenney previously referenced the province’s Critical Infrastructure and Defence Act (CIDA), a bill that allows law enforcement to fine and arrest individuals blocking critical infrastructure such as highways and railroads.

“Alberta will demonstrate that the Coutts border blockade was effectively dealt with prior to…