Trudeau Regrets Calling Protesters ‘Fringe Minority,’ Responds to Emergencies Act Inquiry Report

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti and President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair listen to a reporter's question, in Ottawa, on Feb.17, 2023. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Feb. 17 that he regretted calling Freedom Convoy protesters a “small fringe minority.” His comments came as part of his response to the newly released Public Order Emergency Commission’s report.

While Commissioner Paul Rouleau said in his Feb. 17 report that the government was justified in invoking the Emergencies Act last year to clear convoy protests against COVID-19 mandates, he said the government could have handled some things better. Trudeau’s way of talking about the protesters was one of them.