The deadline for being part of the Emergencies Act inquiry has passed and the government of Ontario didn't seek standing, despite the largest convoy protests happening in the province.

Justice Paul S. Rouleau, Commissioner of the Public Order Emergency Commission, released his decision on applications for standing late Monday night.

Nearly 40 parties applied for standing. More than half were awarded standing including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the federal government, and the cities of Ottawa and Windsor. Rouleau also granted standing to business and policing groups — including the Ontario Provincial Police — and members of the convoy itself.

"The government supports the OPP’s application to seek standing given their direct involvement clearing the blockades in Windsor and Ottawa," solicitor general spokesperson Hannah Jensen said.

The solicitor general's office hasn't closed the door on joining the inquiry at a later date. While the June 15 deadline has passed, the province could get an exemption from Rouleau to seek standing.

Sylvia Jones, who was the Solicitor General before the deadline and is now the health minister, didn't answer questions from QP Briefing about why Ontario didn't seek standing as she made her way into the first cabinet meeting of the Ford government's new term.

"I can't be late," she said.

She was not the last to arrive.

New Solicitor General Michael Kerzner also didn't take questions from reporters.

The inquiry will examine the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act in response to the "Freedom Convoy" protests that seized Ottawa for weeks this winter.

Ottawa Liberal MPP John Fraser said he felt it was "unusual" for the government not to seek standing, given so many other groups and provinces have. He said it displayed a "disregard" for the cities affected.

Participating in the commission would allow the government to explore first-hand the decisions that affected their policies during the protests, Fraser said.

"It's the responsible thing for the government to be there, to ask the right questions if they need to," he said.

Windsor said that's essentially why it's going. The city saw its Ambassador Bridge, a key trade route with the United States, blocked off by the protests.

"The interest of the City and its residents is best served through an active participation in this review process, although at this time we are just beginning to determine what this will look like," the city solicitor said in a statement.

Saskatchewan, on the other hand, has figured out its plans, saying it will argue the Act's use was a violation of Canadians' charter rights.

"The minister of justice and attorney general has a responsibility to ensure that the administration of public affairs are conducted in accordance with the law in Saskatchewan and therefore has a direct interest to seek standing in the commission," executive council spokesperson Matthew Glover said in a statement.

While Premier Doug Ford was initially supportive of the convoy protesters, he eventually condemned them and suggested he was in favour of the feds using the Act.

The Ontario government has since passed much stronger anti-protest laws in an attempt to prevent similar occupations.

Rouleau said he granted standing to lots of groups to get lots of perspectives.

"I am committed to ensuring that this Inquiry will be fair and open," he said in a release. "In order to do so, I must obtain and consider a broad range of information that pertains to the issues identified in the terms of reference."

Rouleau said the commission may interview people with "first-hand experience of relevant matters," and that anyone else who wants to can participate will be able to submit opinions through a web portal.

PCs not seeking standing in Emergencies Act inquiry, for now

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