During a special joint committee on the invocation of the Emergencies Act, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told Sen. Peter Harder that the period the so-called "Freedom Convoy" encamped in downtown Ottawa was an "agonizing time" for both Canadians and those in government. She said they had to balance "serious things against each other." She also said they had spoken with business owners and industry leaders who expressed concerns about the convoy's impact.