The investigation into the liberal government's historic choice to invoke the Emergency Act to suppress weeks-long protests against COVID-19 mandates last winter has moved into the public policy phase.

The Public Order Emergency Commission is expected to hear from about 50 experts this week who will share their views on the use of the Emergency Act, including whether it needs to be updated.

This morning's session will also focus on the fundamental rights and freedoms at risk in public protests, as well as their limits, while the afternoon session will examine financial governance, policing, and intelligence.

Other topics to be discussed this week include cryptocurrencies, international supply chains, and criminal law, with discussions largely driven by policy papers commissioned for the inquiry earlier this year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergency Act on February 14 after thousands of protesters linked to the "Freedom Convoy" surrounded downtown Ottawa and major border crossings.

The calling of a public inquiry is also a requirement under the Emergency Act, and Judge Paul Rouleau, the commissioner of the inquiry, must submit his report to Parliament by February 20, 2023.

In this context, Rouleau said in a statement last Thursday: "I look forward to hearing the ideas and views of experts and discussing and analyzing these key policy issues. This will help the commission consider the recommendations that should be made regarding the use of the Emergency Act and its potential update and in which areas we consider further study or research."

The policy phase comes after six weeks of public hearings at the Library and Archives Canada building in downtown Ottawa, culminating in Trudeau's hours-long testimony on Friday.