Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act to deal with protesters
February 14, 2022 5:24pm
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will be invoking the Emergencies Act in an effort to end anti-vaccine mandate protests.
Trudeau made the announcement late Monday afternoon following discussions with the federal Liberal caucus, premiers, and Opposition leaders.
The Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, gives the federal government special temporary powers to ensure safety and security during national emergencies.
This is the first time this legislation has been used in Canadian history.
By triggering the act, police will be given more tools to make arrests and impose fines. Trudeau said the Canadian military will not be called in to enforce the law, and the use of the act respects the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He added that the use of the act will geographically specific and implemented where necessary.
Trudeau said the Emergencies Act will serve to protect infrastructure, such as borders and airports, from blockades. The declaration of the emergency will remain in place for up to 30 days, unless renewed if needed.
Some other measures of the act includes giving financial institutions the power to suspend or freeze, without court order, any accounts suspected of being used to fund blockade supporters, and force funding platforms and cryptocurrencies to follow anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws. The RCMP will also be used to enforce municipal bylaws.
Additionally, businesses with trucks involved with illegal blockades will suffer consequences including having their corporate bank accounts frozen and their insurance suspended.
More to come.
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