Graham Reeder
Graham Reeder spoke 58 times across 4 days of testimony.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Good evening. My name is Graham Reeder, and I am counsel for the City of Windsor. I'll be directing my questions today to Commissioner Lucki, but I welcome any input from Deputy Commissioner Duheme if my question touches on his knowledge instead.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Not at all. My apologies, Commissioner Rouleau. So I'll get started. How many RCMP officers -- you -- Commissioner Lucki, you talked about the "O" Division detachment in Windsor earlier this afternoon or this morning, rather. How many -- approximately how many RCMP officers are in that detachment?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Yes.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. Do you know if there's a tactical support group in -- stationed in Windsor?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. Can a municipal police force ask for tactical support group assistance directly to the RCMP?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. And what does that process look like when you are not the police of jurisdiction? Can you just describe it?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. So as I understood, police of jurisdiction and municipal police force would not go directly to the RCMP, they would go through the OPP?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay, thank you. Would you agree with me that when the RCMP is not the police of jurisdiction during a disruption, particularly at a port of entry, as in Windsor at the bridge, that the RCMP's role is to support the police of jurisdiction in protecting the port of entry?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay, understood. Has the role of the RCMP changed at all in Windsor with respect to the protection of the bridge since the convoy protests?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. And to your knowledge, has the RCMP ever been the police of jurisdiction to respond to events at the Ambassador Bridge?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you, those are all my questions.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you, those are all my questions.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Good evening. Graham Reeder for the City of Windsor. We have no further questions, and we yield the remainder of our time to the Government of Canada. Thank you.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And you testified this morning that the Department of Finance concluded that the Ambassador Bridge blockade was impacting Canada’s GDP as a whole, is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
By roughly $45 million per day over the first week?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. Thank you. And the Department of Finance concluded that the blockade jeopardized Canada’s reputation as a reliable economic partner for the US, is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you. And the economic policy branch concluded that the impacts would have compounded over time as the blockade went on, is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Yeah, you gave the example of the food and beverage industry and their inventory, right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. And the department concluded that the impacts ultimately were likely transitory because the closures were relatively short-lived, is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And the closures at the Ambassador Bridge were short-lived, you’ll agree with me, because the Windsor Police and its policing partners cleared the blockade by February 13th?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. Would you agree with me that reopening the Ambassador Bridge was key to avoiding long-term entrenched economic damage to the automotive sector, Canada’s GDP, and Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And so clearing the Ambassador Bridge helped avoid that?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And are you aware that after the bridge was reopened on February 13th, police maintained a strong presence in the area; they erected concrete barriers along the length of the municipal road, the Huron Church Road, between the Ambassador Bridge and Highway 401?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. Thank you. The -- this temporary hardening of the access road to the bridge was implemented to prevent another blockade to the bridge; does that accord with your understanding?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. And this would be to avoid -- this hardening would be to avoid compounded economic impacts, and the risk to Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. So Mayor Dilkens in -- of -- the Mayor of Windsor testified at this Commission that these efforts to protect the bridge had a significant impact on the residents, businesses, and students living, working, and studying around Huron Church Road and the bridge. Have you completed any analysis of the impact of the blockade on local businesses and the Windsor economy?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. But you would expect that there would be local impacts that are distinct from the impacts on Canada’s GDP, Canada’s trading reputation, the auto industry, et cetera?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. Thank you. It goes without saying that there are significant costs associated with police and municipal actions to clear the blockade and temporarily harden the route to the bridge to prevent further blockades.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Right. Thank you. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation sourced many of the concrete barriers used in the police operations, almost $1 million worth. The Commission has head evidence that there was some confusion internally at MTO as to who would be responsible to pay for these barriers. And the question is as to whether the cost would be paid for by the MTO or others. And the preliminary thought from the OPP was that the compensation would be through federal funds available to support the Emergency Response to reopening the crossing. MTO ultimately did not cover the costs of the barriers at the time. Windsor paid the costs to avoid any delays, and has sought reimbursement. I understand that the Department of Finance has not produced an ex post assessment of the economic impacts of the blockades, is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
So I’m going ask the Clerk to pull up WIN00002244, and this is a letter from Windsor Mayor Dilkens to the Minister of Finance of Canada -- Ministers of Finance of both Canada and Ontario, dated March 15th. Did any of you see the letter at the time it was sent, this letter?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. On the third line in the last paragraph of page 1, there we go, it reads: “Since early February, the Windsor Police Service, the City of Windsor and our partners have experienced significant costs associated with the illegal occupation, and the ongoing need to secure Huron Church Road against continued risks. These costs go well above the normal course for municipal operations and are related to the clearing of this international gateway.” The Mayor goes on to request reimbursement of these unforeseen costs, stating: “It would be unreasonable to expect municipal taxpayers to shoulder these costs alone.” In his testimony at the Commission, Mayor Dilkens testified that the City had incurred a cost of $5.3 million in response to the blockade. Are any of you involved in any discussion around allocation of costs incurred to respond to the blockades in general, or with respect to Windsor’s cost specifically?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. And knowing that I’m at the end of my time, I just have a few more short questions. Would you agree with Mayor Dilkens that Windsor municipal taxpayers should not be expected to shoulder the costs of securing this key international gateway alone?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Understood. Thank you. In any event, do you agree that the issue of which level of government in response for costs of a multijurisdictional response is something that should be planned in advance?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Of course, of course. My last question was just asking whether or not some kind of advance planning would help avoid potential delays in allocating costs.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Of course. Thank you very much.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you very much. Those are my questions.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Those words we've heard so many times, Commissioner, "You must be on mute."
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you. Good evening, Minister LeBlanc. My name is Graham Reeder. I'm counsel for the City of Windsor.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
I want to start off by clearing up some comments you made to my friend for the Canadian Constitutional Foundation about the police operations in Windsor. It was not the case that there was no plan in Windsor, nor did it take weeks to resolve. The evidence before the Commission is that the blockade in Windsor began on February 7th. The preliminary plan was in place. Windsor Police quickly requested Public Order resources from the OPP and other policing partners. These resources quickly arrived, and the plan was further developed when integrated command was set up on the 10th. The plan was actioned on the 12th and 13th, at which point the blockade in Windsor was cleared, less than a week after it was established, just -- so you misspoke when you suggested the Windsor -- the blockade in Windsor had been going on for weeks, and there was no plan. Just wanted to clear that up, thanks.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
No, there was not.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
I’m happy to ask, if that accords with your understanding, Mr. Leblanc?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
I’ll ask Mr. Clerk to bring up SSMCAN0003117. This is a letter from Prime -- from the Prime Minister to Premiers, sent after the First Ministers’ meeting on February the 14th. And if we can go to page 3, under point 6, the letter reads: “Our Government recognizes the importance of coordinating with provinces, territories, and municipalities to ensure the safety and security of Canadians.” Do you agree with the Prime Minister here?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Thank you. The -- Minister Blair and Minister Mendicino both told this Commission that there’s responsibility for all three orders of government to communicate and cooperate when responding to an event like the protest earlier this year; do you agree with them?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And we heard from Minister Mendicino today that timely, two-way communication between the -- his Ministry and the City of Windsor was important in his work at the federal level to respond to the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. I’ll ask Mr. Clerk to bring up SSMCAN00002253. Although I understand you did not communicate directly with Windsor, were you aware that your Senior Advisor, Meredith Caplan Jamieson, communicated with Windsor’s Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Teliszewsky, during the blockade of the bridge?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Ms. Caplan Jamieson spoke Mr. Teliszewsky the morning of February 8th, the morning after the blockade started in Windsor. She relied on the -- and Ms. Caplan Jamieson relied on that information she received from Mr. Teliszewsky in this briefing note to you on that same day. She talks about Mr. Teliszewsky. If we can slowly scroll through to give the Minister a chance to ---
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
--- see the briefing note. She talks about Mr. Teliszewsky’s download and highlights information that she characterized -- characterize as the make-up of the convoy in Windsor, the situation on the ground, the City’s key concerns, what next steps the City had already taken, and what the City’s next steps were. Are you aware that Mr. Teliszewsky continued to share information with Ms. Caplan Jamieson throughout the blockade?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And further to that, Ms. Caplan Jamieson asked her counterparts in other Ministries to invite her to meetings with Ontario counterparts, including municipalities. Is that right? Does that purport with your...?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Okay. And you’re familiar with the report to the Houses of -- the Houses of Parliament regarding the Emergencies Act consultations?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
That’s right. So let’s pull it up, PBCAN00001159. So the report includes details on the federal government’s engagement with the provinces, territories, and municipalities, and law enforcement it’s on the first page under “Engagement”. Is it right that it includes details of the federal engagement with the City of Ottawa?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
It also describes regular engagement with municipal and provincial officials concerning the Ambassador Bridge, including -- just to list them out for you -- communication between Prime Minister and the Mayor of Windsor; between the Minister of Transport and the Mayor of Windsor; the office of the President of the Queen’s Privy Council and the City of Windsor; Minister of Emergency Preparedness and the City of Windsor; the Office of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure, and Communities -- and I believe that’s your office -- and the City of Windsor. Is that an accurate summary of ---
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Now, would you agree that this regular communication with municipal officials, was vital to the work of the federal government in responding to the blockades?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And this engagement with municipal governments was important enough to -- the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, that the Government included it in the consultation report; is that right?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Would you agree with me that it’s apparent from the protests and the collaborative relationship and two-way communication between the federal government and impacted municipalities, that that communication is critical in responding to a multijurisdictional event, like the ones we experienced earlier this year?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And would you agree that the federal government cannot always rely on their provincial partners to facilitate that communication?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
And the direct communication that you alluded to there, is that particularly important which -- in the case, for example, with the Ambassador Bridge, if an event is related to federal critical infrastructure that borders within within a municipality.
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
I understand; I’m at the end of my time; if I could just ask one final question. What are you doing to ensure this cooperation and communication happens, particularly where if for example a provincial partner isn’t engaging in the way you would like?
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Graham Reeder, Counsel (Win)
Good evening. Graham Reader for the City of Windsor. We have no questions. We’ve ceded our time to the Government of Canada.