Ford, Jones challenging summons from Emergencies Act in Ontario court

Premier Doug Ford is set to challenge the summons from the Emergency Act Committee next week, citing parliamentary privilege, court documents show.

Ford and former solicitor general Sylvia Jones, now the health minister, were summoned Monday to appear at the public inquiry, examining the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to end the “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa and Windsor last winter.

According to court documents obtained by CityNews, Ford and Jones cite various legal grounds for not testifying, including “parliamentary privilege [that] prevents members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly from being compelled to testify in any proceeding while the legislature is in session.”

“The privilege allows members to carry out their functions free from external interference. The privilege is necessary for the Legislative Assembly to complete its work,” the documents state.

Parliamentary privilege prevents MPPs from being compelled to testify in any proceeding while the legislature is in session and for 40 days before and after each session.

The court date is tentatively set for Nov. 1, while Ford and Jones were asked to testify on Nov. 10.

Ford, Jones absent from Question Period

The premier and minister Jones were absent from Question Period at Queen’s Park on Tuesday as calls grew louder for Ford to step up and testify.

“It is the federal government that enacted the federal emergencies act. It’s a federal inquiry,” Government House Leader Paul Calandra said on Tuesday.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the premier owes it to Ontarians to appear before the inquiry.

“I think [Ford] has an obligation… to show leadership, to be clear and honest about the decisions his government took, and the last time I checked, Ottawa and Windsor are located in Ontario,” Schreiner said.

Last week, Ford told reporters he had not been asked to appear at the inquiry, but lawyers for the Public Order Emergency Commission say the premier and Jones refused repeated requests to appear voluntarily.

On Oct. 17, Ford said the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) did an “incredible job” helping Ottawa police and RCMP clear Freedom Convoy protesters. He also said he stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau throughout the convoy and the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens will testify at the inquiry, while former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson already spoke to the commission.

With files from The Canadian Press