RCMP’s Lucki Can’t Explain Text Messages in Which She Suggested Ottawa Wanted Support for Emergencies Act Retroactively

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair speaks with RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki at the Standing a committee on Public Safety and National Security, in Ottawa on Oct. 31, 2022. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki couldn’t explain her text messages from early this year that suggested Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair would seek retroactive support for the Emergencies Act (EA) from the police.

As first reported by the Globe and Mail, Lucki was approached by reporters outside a House of Commons committee on Oct. 31 regarding her text exchange with her Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) counterpart in February in which she suggested Blair would ask the police to express support for the EA—five days after it was invoked.