Freeland on Rebel News Arrest: Politicians Have ‘No Role’ in Police Matters

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland speaks during a news conference on the next phase of the government’s economic plan at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Nov. 28, 2023. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang

Politicians have no input on police operations, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said when asked to comment on the arrest of a journalist this week who was asking her questions.

“Canada is a rule of law country, Canada is a democracy, operational decisions about law enforcement are taken by the police of jurisdiction, quite appropriately, political elected officials have no role in the taking of those decisions,” Ms. Freeland said during a Jan. 11 press conference in Toronto. “And that’s why I don’t have any further comment on it,” she added.