Citizen commission into Freedom Convoy starts today
Organizers say other inquiries don't focus on impact on residents
An Ottawa People's Commission launches Monday to better understand impacts the Freedom Convoy had on locals during the weeks-long occupation of downtown streets.
Organizers say it is a grassroots initiative to respond to the "deeply disturbing and harmful occupation the nation's capital endured."
Ken Rubin is one of the people who helped form the group, which will have commissioners prepare a report before the one-year anniversary of the anti-COVID rule and anti-government protesters coming to Ottawa at the end of January and staying for about three weeks.
He said the commission will allow people to testify if they wish.
"People can tell their stories and the commissioners, who are respected people, will hear them," he said.
Several investigations and inquiries into the Freedom Convoy are taking place at different levels of government, including a federal committee looking into the use of the Emergencies Act, but organizers of the people's commission say those do not focus on the impact to residents.
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"[These inquiries] by no means capture what they went through, or what they would like to see done as a result of that occupation," Rubin said.
He said the citizen's group will also be forward-looking, and not interested in the finger-pointing that will invariably result from the other inquiries.
"The community has to be better prepared, not just ... police security, but in terms of how they will deal with it and how groups can take care of their own public safety, to an extent, and not live in fear," he said.
The commission is being held at the Ottawa Public Library's downtown branch. Organizers are seeking volunteers and donations.
A website launched Monday with more details on the commissioners and the structure of the group.
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