The Federal Court has ruled. The proclamation of the Emergency Measures Act by the Trudeau government to dismantle the “freedom convoy”, in the winter of 2022, was “unreasonable” and “illegal”.
This decision is much more than a simple judgment. It is a stinging and humiliating beating inflicted on the liberals and all those who endorsed with enthusiasm, if not with relish, their determination to destroy a protest movement.
Apologies
At the start of his mandate, Justin Trudeau demonstrated his exceptional ease in presenting tearful apologies for all the mistakes committed by his predecessors. We would therefore have expected him to accept his legal defeat with dignity and to apologize for his own excesses and his lack of judgment towards the truckers he unjustly demonized. That would have been an absolute minimum.
But that was too much to expect from Trudeau. As he cannot stand contradiction, his government immediately announced its intention to appeal the case.
This is irreverent towards taxpayers, who will pay the price for this approach, but it is certainly better this way.
Ottawa having used and abused its power to manage citizen discontent, the justice system must be rigorous towards it.
By confirming the unconstitutionality of the use of this law, the Supreme Court would send, on the one hand, a serious warning to future prime ministers who would be tempted to imitate Trudeau to get rid of discordant voices. This would restore confidence to Canadians in their institutions!
On the other hand, this judgment would make inevitable a call for accountability, for the punishment of the guilty, and for compensation for the victims. Because, for the moment, nothing is planned.
Consequences
However, a judgment devoid of concrete consequences causes more harm than good. By pointing out to elected officials that they can break the laws with impunity, he invites them to increase the number of criminal acts. Canada is already doing terribly. No need to add more!