Senior OPP officer to testify about Ambassador Bridge blockade at Emergencies Act inquiry

OTTAWA-The federal Emergencies Act inquiry continues Tuesday with testimony from a senior Ontario Provincial Police officer who played a leading role in the response to the self-styled Freedom Convoy" blockade of Windsor's Ambassador Bridge to the United States.

Dana Earley, an OPP superintendent who helped co-ordinate the police response to clear the blockade, is appearing as a witness Tuesday morning.

On Monday, the inquiry led by Ontario Justice Paul Rouleau heard from evidence of how that blockade - which lasted from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13 - sparked concerns about the economic fallout of restricted movement on both sides of the border.

The Ambassador Bridge blockade was one of several at border crossings across the country, which sprang up after the main convoy protest occupied downtown Ottawa last winter.

The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, arguing it was necessary as a last resort" to deal with the protest crisis that was causing economic damage and carried a threat of serious political violence.

Critics have said the unprecedented move went too far, with some civil liberties groups arguing it sets the bar too low for future use of the federal emergencies law.

More to come.

Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc

Alex Ballingall is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @aballinga