Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken the unprecedented step of invoking the Emergencies Act to crack down on anti-vaccine mandate protests.
Trudeau said the scope of the measures would be “time-limited”, “reasonable and proportionate” and would not see the military deployed.
Without a court order, banks will be able freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests.
Hundreds of protesters remain in Canada’s capital city.
On Sunday, law enforcement cleared anti-mandate protesters at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor – a critical pathway for Canada-US trade – after a week-long stalemate.
What began as a protest against a new rule that all truckers must be vaccinated to cross the US-Canada border, or quarantine upon return, has grown into a broader challenge to al COVID-19 health restrictions.
“This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs,” Trudeau told a news conference on Monday.
He said the police would be given “more tools” to imprison or fine protesters and protect critical infrastructure.
Trudeau told reporters the legislation would be applied temporarily and in a highly specific manner.
Critics have noted that the prime minister voiced support for farmers in India who blocked major highways to New Delhi for a year in 2021, saying at the time: “Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest.”
Trudeau’s invoking of the Emergencies Act comes as demonstrations across Canada enter their third week.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at Monday’s news conference that banks would be able freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests without any need for a court order.
Vehicle insurance of anyone involved with the demonstrations can also be suspended, she added.
Freeland said they were broadening Canada’s “Terrorist Financing” rules to cover cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding platforms, as part of the effort.
“It’s all about following the money,” she said.
The Emergencies Act, passed in 1988, demands a high legal bar to be invoked. It may only be used in an “urgent and critical situation” that “seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians”. Lawful protests do not qualify.
Speaking on Monday, Canada’s Justice Minister David Lametti said the government believes these conditions have been met.
He argued that the “crisis” was national in scope and exceeded the power of existing laws and Canada’s provinces to respond.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a Conservative, said he supported the federal government.
But the premiers of Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan said the emergency powers were not needed in their regions.
Before Trudeau’s announcement, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said invoking the Emergencies Act could “throw oil on the fire”. (BBC)
We are now living in a POLICE STATE
We are now living in a POLICE STATE
How to remove a liberal prime minister in 1 easy step.
anyone know how. ?
How to remove a liberal prime minister in 1 easy step.
anyone know how. ?
I agree, it is time that this was over.The Prime Minister has hid too long away from what is affecting all Canadians\\\’ from Coast to Coast to Coast. Canada need to be in a stable environment within this country and having a radical few shut down the trade and financial services of this country is 100% wrong. Freezing their personal assets and bank accounts may be the first step in the control that is needed. For me, when these \\\’truckers and \\\’hanger on\\\’s\\\’ first started this, they should have been asked by the police for their name, driver licence , insurance and the cars\\\’, trucks\\\’ and SUV\\\’s and Semis\\\’ should have had a copy of the licence plate put on file. Each should have had these names and plates checked and if any were American\\\’s or other foreign countries they should have been sent home. This should include Media. This sounds radical but is my thought as I believe when I am away from Canada, I follow the rules of the country where i am at. Should be the same for those coming here.
I agree, it is time that this was over.The Prime Minister has hid too long away from what is affecting all Canadians\\\’ from Coast to Coast to Coast. Canada need to be in a stable environment within this country and having a radical few shut down the trade and financial services of this country is 100% wrong. Freezing their personal assets and bank accounts may be the first step in the control that is needed. For me, when these \\\’truckers and \\\’hanger on\\\’s\\\’ first started this, they should have been asked by the police for their name, driver licence , insurance and the cars\\\’, trucks\\\’ and SUV\\\’s and Semis\\\’ should have had a copy of the licence plate put on file. Each should have had these names and plates checked and if any were American\\\’s or other foreign countries they should have been sent home. This should include Media. This sounds radical but is my thought as I believe when I am away from Canada, I follow the rules of the country where i am at. Should be the same for those coming here.
What is this !!!
What is this !!!
Wickedness of the highest order……. and contradicting himself too, supporting it in India, and fighting it in his own backyard…… freezing people\\\’s accounts and suspending vehicle insurance, tyranny is on the way…
Wickedness of the highest order……. and contradicting himself too, supporting it in India, and fighting it in his own backyard…… freezing people\\\’s accounts and suspending vehicle insurance, tyranny is on the way…
Just as mandates were an over reach by Trudeau, so is invoking this Act. This is what happens when weak Politicians rule the land instead of a leader.
Just as mandates were an over reach by Trudeau, so is invoking this Act. This is what happens when weak Politicians rule the land instead of a leader.
Trudeau has enflamed the situation from the beginning with his self righteous attitude and hypocritic stance. When our major transportation arteries were shut down a few years ago, he did nothing and preached the tone of \\\”dialogue\\\”. Now, he is disgusted by the truckers outside his office and envokes emergency powers. I agree with Legault, he is throwing oil on the fire and his response shows a clear lack of leadership and I do hope the Liberals reconsider their leadership choice soon. This \\\”boy\\\” clearly has too much power and a big bruised ego. I believe the international community as well as many Canadians are shaking their head at a so called leader using these powers to try to intimidate. I do hope we have media which shows the bouncy castles and the peacefulness of this demonstration and the lack of maturity of a so called leader we have in Canada. A travesty!!!
Trudeau has enflamed the situation from the beginning with his self righteous attitude and hypocritic stance. When our major transportation arteries were shut down a few years ago, he did nothing and preached the tone of \\\”dialogue\\\”. Now, he is disgusted by the truckers outside his office and envokes emergency powers. I agree with Legault, he is throwing oil on the fire and his response shows a clear lack of leadership and I do hope the Liberals reconsider their leadership choice soon. This \\\”boy\\\” clearly has too much power and a big bruised ego. I believe the international community as well as many Canadians are shaking their head at a so called leader using these powers to try to intimidate. I do hope we have media which shows the bouncy castles and the peacefulness of this demonstration and the lack of maturity of a so called leader we have in Canada. A travesty!!!
the fact that these protests have been terrorizing innocent residents in the capital and harassing citizens and business\\\’ something needed to be done and finally we might see an end to this \\\” peaceful protest\\\” (what a joke)
the fact that these protests have been terrorizing innocent residents in the capital and harassing citizens and business\\\’ something needed to be done and finally we might see an end to this \\\” peaceful protest\\\” (what a joke)
This is setting a scary precedent for the government to control its citizens in a communistic state. It\\\’s a slippery slope. These protesters are for the majority peaceful with some bad actors but all are denounced as terrorists. The majority are peacefully protesting. He then can you equate that with terrorism which involves violence to and fear. Democracy and freedom of speech are being destroyed under the liberal government.
This is setting a scary precedent for the government to control its citizens in a communistic state. It\\\’s a slippery slope. These protesters are for the majority peaceful with some bad actors but all are denounced as terrorists. The majority are peacefully protesting. He then can you equate that with terrorism which involves violence to and fear. Democracy and freedom of speech are being destroyed under the liberal government.