Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invokes Canada’s Emergencies Act to handle ‘illegal’ blockades
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 14, 2022 – Today, at a news conference on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that the federal government is temporarily invoking the federal Emergencies Act in an effort to address ongoing convoy protests that have affected border crossings and cities across the country.
The major historical announcement on Monday was made at a press conference at Parliament Hill along side Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair.
On Friday, Ontario invoked a state of emergency to respond to the blockades – this was the responsible and necessary thing to do.
“Today, to continue building on these efforts, the federal government is ready to use more tools at its disposal to get the situation fully under control. After discussions with Cabinet and caucus. After consultation with premiers from all provinces and territories. And after speaking with opposition leaders. The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act to supplement Provincial and Territorial capacity to address the blockades and occupations,” stated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“With each illegal blockade, local law enforcement agencies have been acting to keep the peace within their jurisdiction. Despite their best efforts, it is now clear that there are serious challenges to law enforcements’ ability to effectively enforce the law,” said the Prime Minister.
“I want to be very clear, the scope of these measures will be time-limited, geographically-targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address. The Emergencies Act will be used to strengthen and support law enforcement agencies at all levels across the country,” said Prime Minister Trudeau.
Canada’s Prime Minister says the feds will not be calling in the military and the new act will be used sparingly but the police will be given more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies constitute illegal and dangerous activities, such as blockades and occupations, as seen in Ottawa, the Ambassador Bridge, and elsewhere.
These tools include strengthening their ability to impose fines or imprisonment.
The government will designate, secure and protect places and infrastructure that are critical to our economy and people’s jobs, including border crossings or airports.
“Finally, it will enable the RCMP to enforce municipal by-laws and provincial offences where required. That is what the Emergencies Act does,” said Trudeau.
Other tools include, preventing funds from getting to protesters by – as Chrystia Freeland says – giving banks the power to freeze accounts of blockade supporters and to force crowdfunding platforms and cryptocurrencies to follow anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws.
“We are broadening the scope of Canada’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules so that they cover crowdfunding platforms and the payment service providers they use,” said Freeland. “These changes cover all forms of transactions including digital assets such as cryptocurrencies. The illegal blockades have highlighted the fact that crowdfunding platforms and some of the payment service providers they use are not fully captured under the proceeds of crime and terrorist financing act. Our banks and financial institutions are already obligated to report to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada or INTRAC,” said Minister Freeland.
“As of today all crowdfunding platforms and the payment service providers they use much register with FINTRAC and they must report large and suspicious transactions to FINTRAC. This will help mitigate the risk that these platforms receive illicit funds…”We know that these platforms are being used to support illegal blockades and illegal activity which is damaging the Canadian economy,” said Freeland.
This will be the first time in Canadian history, the federal government is enacting the Emergencies Act to bring the ongoing trucker convoy protests and blockades to an end.
The Prime Minister also wanted to be very clear to convey to Canadians what the Emergencies Act does not do.
“Let me be equally clear about what it does not do.
“We are not using the Emergencies Act to call in the military.
“We are not suspending fundamental rights or overriding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“We are not limiting people’s freedom of speech.
“We are not limiting freedom of peaceful assembly.
“We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally.
“We are reinforcing the principles, values, and institutions that keep all Canadians free,” emphasized Prime Minister Trudeau.
Meanwhile, Tamara Lich, one of the main convoy organisers at a press conference, Monday urged protesters to stand firm said: “There are no threats that will frighten us. We will hold the line. To our truckers and friends on Parliament Hill, do not give into fear and threats. Your courage has already exceeded all of our expectations and inspired an international movement. Be strong, show kindness. Love will always defeat hate. Hold the line.”
While Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday morning that he supports the federal government doing anything it could “to bring law and order back to our province.”
The Emergencies Act is formerly known as the War Measures Act. It was passed in 1988 and has never been used. The last time these federal emergency powers were invoked under what was then called the War Measures Act was during the 1970 FLQ October Crisis.
Other articles from totimes.ca – mtltimes.ca – otttimes.ca
