Demonstrations in Ottawa and at the borders | Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act

(Ottawa) The federal government invokes the Emergency Measures Act in order to put an end to the “illegal activities” which paralyze downtown Ottawa and several crossings on the Canada-US border, despite the strong opposition of the provinces, which fear that such a step will inflame an already tense social climate.

Mylene Crete
The Press

Joel-Denis Bellavance
The Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he has an obligation to use this “exceptional measure” for the first time since its adoption in 1988 to restore order, preserve the confidence of Canadians in their institutions and protect Canada’s reputation. with its allies as a country where the rule of law is respected.

While the law’s provisions apply immediately nationwide, they will be time-limited, targeted to the affected regions, and will be “reasonable” and proportionate to the threats to Canada’s security, he added.

The week-long closure of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, the most important trade link between Canada and the United States, due to barricades erected by protesters, has damaged the country’s reputation and disrupted the chain of supply, according to the Prime Minister, forcing the White House to intervene.

The use of Emergency Measures Act will not lead to the deployment of soldiers in places affected by demonstrations and barricades, stressed Mr. Trudeau, whose decision was welcomed by organizations representing business people.

But it will give police forces additional tools to enforce provincial laws and municipal by-laws. Concretely, the police will be able to fine or imprison individuals who block strategic infrastructures such as a bridge or a border crossing.

The use of legislation will also facilitate the use of tow trucks to remove the many trucks that are in the federal capital or blocking the border crossing of Coutts, Alberta. So far, towing companies have refused requests for service for fear of reprisals. In Windsor, it was American companies that intervened, gave the example of Mr. Trudeau.

“Everyone is tired of the pandemic. But there are other ways to express yourself than to participate in illegal and dangerous activities, ”hammered Mr. Trudeau during a press conference. “We cannot and we will not tolerate dangerous activities continuing,” said Mr. Trudeau, again inviting the demonstrators who are paralyzing downtown Ottawa to pack up.

The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by four of his ministers, announced the decision after informing his provincial counterparts of his intentions on Monday morning. He also shared his approach with the leaders of the other political parties.

Mr. Trudeau defended himself from wanting to suspend the fundamental rights provided for in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“This siege and this dam are causing significant damage to our economy, to our democratic institutions and to Canada’s reputation in the world,” lamented the Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, at her side. She argued that “international trust in Canada” is at stake.

This is the first time since its adoption in 1988 that a government has invoked the Emergency Measures Act. This replaced the controversial War Measures Act which had been used by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau during the October Crisis.

Freeland turn off the tap

At the same time, the Trudeau government wants to cut the funding that enabled the illegal occupations. Crowdfunding platforms and online payment services are added to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. They must now report any large or suspicious transactions, including cryptocurrency transactions, to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Center of Canada.

Banks will be able to temporarily stop offering financial services when they suspect that an account is being used for illegal blockades.

Banks can also freeze the personal or business accounts of any participants in illegal blockades without a court order. They will have to report these people to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

A few hours earlier during question period, the opposition parties questioned the use of the Emergency Measures Act, after weeks of inaction by the Prime Minister. “Section 16 of the Emergency Measures Act refers to threats to the security of Canada, argued the interim leader of the Conservative Party, Candice Bergen. In this context, does the Prime Minister of Canada consider that these demonstrations are a threat to the security of Canada, and if not, does he not believe that he could inflame the situation instead of calming it down? »

“Our number one priority is to end these illegal blockades, enforce the law and get Canadians back to their lives,” Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said.

Measure “a bit extreme”

The Conservatives continued to call for an end to mandatory vaccinations for truckers. They tried unsuccessfully to pass a motion asking the government to present a plan for the lifting of health measures and vaccination obligations by the end of the month. It should be noted that Liberal MP Joël Lightbound, who criticized the management of the health crisis by the Trudeau government, supported the Conservatives’ initiative.

The Bloc Québécois believes that it is not necessary to invoke the Emergency Measures Act, especially since the police had succeeded the day before in dislodging the demonstrators who were blocking traffic on the Ambassador Bridge. “Even before a comparable approach, in a different context, could be deployed in Ottawa, the federal government is immediately going to a measure which, in the circumstances, seems a bit extreme”, affirmed the leader of the Bloc. , Yves-François Blanchet, noting in passing that several provinces, notably Quebec, are resistant to it.

The New Democratic Party intends to support the use of Emergency Measures Acthe who had opposed the use of the War Measures Act during the October crisis. These are two different laws, argued its leader Jagmeet Singh. ” The War Measures Act was heavily criticized for giving government too much power and leading to human rights abuses, he said. The Emergency Measures Act does not give the same powers. »