Emergencies Act Hearings End With Final Words on Transparency, Accountability

Commissioner Paul Rouleau listens to counsel question a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, Nov. 4, 2022. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

After 300 hours of testimony, 9,000 exhibits and a few major revelations, the public portion of on investigation into the first-ever use of the Emergencies Act ended Friday with a deep dive into questions about government accountability and transparency.

A panel of experts offered insight into a key issue the Public Order Emergency Commission will have to decide: whether the federal government has been forthcoming enough about why cabinet felt legally justified to invoke what is supposed to be a measure of last resort.