The National Telegraph - Wyatt Claypool - May 10, 2022


Did the Liberals Use Military Aircraft To Monitor The Freedom Convoy？


Episode Stats

Length

2 minutes

Words per Minute

129.2543

Word Count

338

Sentence Count

30


Summary

The Prime Minister has called it a training flight. If the government was prepared to send up ISR aircraft over the protests, what was it doing to gather intelligence on the ground? Because one doesn t engage one without the other.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 The Honourable Member for Seltzerie, White Rock.
00:00:03.480 Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
00:00:04.560 We know that our Special Forces King Air Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Platform was monitoring the truckers' convoy protests on Parliament Hill.
00:00:14.000 The Prime Minister has called it a training flight.
00:00:16.900 If the government was prepared to send up ISR aircraft over the protests, what was it doing to gather intelligence on the ground?
00:00:24.380 Because one doesn't engage one without the other.
00:00:27.160 My question is, what was the coordination between Public Safety, National Defence, Canadian Forces, Privy Council, and the Prime Minister's office during the protests?
00:00:38.760 The Honourable Minister of National Defence.
00:00:42.920 Mr. Speaker, I'd like to reiterate what the Prime Minister said last week a number of times, for my honourable colleague's benefit.
00:00:50.480 The flight in question was part of a Canadian Armed Force training exercise that was planned prior to and was unrelated to the convoy protest.
00:01:03.880 The training had nothing to do with the convoy blockade, Mr. Speaker, and we'll continue to reiterate that fact.
00:01:13.300 Thank you.
00:01:13.800 Mr. Speaker, we know a Special Forces Surveillance flight took place.
00:01:29.100 We know the government even let the health agency spy on Canadians' liquor habits during COVID.
00:01:34.940 The Prime Minister has called it a training exercise.
00:01:37.620 What does the government think an ISR does for training?
00:01:41.900 Just fly around in circles?
00:01:44.020 It gathers intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance over that target.
00:01:48.460 And that target clearly was the protests.
00:01:51.480 Two questions.
00:01:52.640 Who was that reconnaissance platform reporting to when gathering intelligence on Canadians?
00:01:57.460 And what special policing authorities were granted to Canadian forces at that time?
00:02:02.020 Good question.
00:02:04.360 The Honourable Minister of National Defence.
00:02:07.440 Mr. Speaker, I'd like to reiterate that the assumptions underlying that question are misguided.
00:02:14.460 Again, the Canadian Armed Forces flight was part of a training exercise.
00:02:20.060 The exercise was planned prior to and was unrelated to the presence of the protesters and the convoy.
00:02:27.640 The opposition doesn't seem to appreciate or like this point, Mr. Speaker, but it is the truth.
00:02:34.140 Thank you.
00:02:36.380 Order.