David Fraser, The Canadian Press

Special rapporteur David Johnston says that a formal inquiry into foreign interference is not needed, but he will hold his own public hearings about the issue sometime this year. 

The former governor general said an inquiry cannot be undertaken in public because of the sensitivity of the intelligence involved, and there would be considerable overlap with the work that he has already been doing to investigate the issue of alleged foreign meddling in the last two federal elections. 

Justice Minister David Lametti says the federal government will move forward quickly on "targeted reforms" to the Criminal Code that would update Canada's bail system.

Lametti says the reforms will address challenges posed by repeat violent offenders and those facing firearms and other weapons charges. 

He made the commitment this afternoon following what he called a good and productive meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

Ottawa police were so concerned about leaks from "Freedom Convoy" sympathizers in their ranks that they proactively shut off the email accounts of members on leave, but now the force has little to say about how real those fears turned out to be.

The Public Order Emergency Commission investigating the federal Liberal government’s use of the Emergencies Act learned there were several times when senior officers were concerned protesters who gridlocked downtown Ottawa for several weeks last winter were getting leaks.

Newly released text messages show how the federal government was planning its communications strategy before the arrival of "Freedom Convoy" protesters in Ottawa back in late January.

Messages between a senior member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s staff and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s press secretary on Jan. 24 have been released by the public inquiry investigating the government's use of the Emergencies Act.

The inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act will hear first-hand testimony Monday from top City of Ottawa officials about February's "Freedom Convoy" protest, including the mayor. 

Outgoing mayor Jim Watson, his chief of staff and the city’s manager are expected to detail for the commission the efforts they took to peacefully end protests in Ottawa.