Witness Testimony

Daniel Bulford, a former RCMP corporal with 15 years of service including eight years on the Emergency Services Support Team assigned to protect the Prime Minister, testified regarding his decision to refuse COVID-19 vaccination and publicly oppose federal mandates. He described conducting what he termed an open-source investigation into vaccine safety and efficacy, reviewing government publications, pharmaceutical fact sheets, and commentary from various medical professionals. He stated that he found official information insufficient and became concerned about reported cardiac risks, biodistribution claims, and the suppression of early treatment discussions. After speaking publicly against mandates and helping organize Mounties for Freedom, he was required to surrender his building access, had his security clearance reviewed and revoked, and ultimately resigned in December 2021 to avoid potential pension consequences tied to dismissal for misconduct.
Mr. Bulford testified that internal efforts to raise concerns within the RCMP were unsuccessful, including correspondence with senior leadership and discussions with colleagues. He characterized the organizational response as dismissive and described three general attitudes among members: silent opposition, active support of mandates, and refusal to engage in discussion. He further stated that he was unaware of any RCMP criminal investigation into alleged wrongdoing related to COVID-19 mandates or restrictions, despite what he described as serious ethical and legal concerns. He referenced disciplinary proceedings involving Ottawa Police Detective Helen Grus as an example of perceived institutional resistance to inquiry.
Regarding public order enforcement, Mr. Bulford contrasted police handling of Black Lives Matter demonstrations with enforcement actions during the Freedom Convoy, describing what he viewed as inconsistent application of public health restrictions and use of force. He suggested that political considerations influenced investigative decisions within the RCMP and stated his belief that the organization neglected its duty to investigate potential misconduct related to pandemic policies. He concluded that broader societal compliance, rather than solely government action, was central to the crisis and encouraged citizens to speak openly, seek financial independence from government, and refuse compliance with policies they consider unjust.