Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just enacted the country’s Emergencies Act, giving him sweeping, unprecedented power to throw the full weight of the Canadian government against the Freedom Convoy protesters throughout the nation.
According to CBC News, the Emergencies Act was installed to replace the War Measures Act in the ’80s, and gives the Prime Minister limitless power to handle “urgent and critical situation[s]” that “seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians and is of such proportions or nature as to exceed the capacity or authority of a province to deal with it.”
Trudeau shared a public update on Sunday night about how he would take action to “end the blockades and occupations.” He said that he had engaged in conversations and coordination with the “Incident Response Group” and overviewed what actions the government might employ against the protestors in order to “protect jobs, public safety… our economy.”
The Emergencies Act gives Trudeau the power to prohibit public assembly and right of travel, something which would aid him tremendously as he attempts to squelch the Freedom Convoy protestors from continuing their stand against authoritarian COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
According to Rebel News, the act gives Trudeau “extraordinary 30-day time-limited powers” and would give Ottawa the right to “force privately-owned tow truck companies to provide their services to the city.”
The last time such a measure was passed was when Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act in dealing with the FLQ crisis in Quebec back in 1970.
Trudeau has continued to slam the protests which have grown into an international movement. He even blamed Americans for causing the issues now plaguing his ministry.
Trudeau said on Monday that he spoke with Democrat President Biden about “global influences on the protest,” including a sizable presence of U.S. citizens at the blockades and foreign money which is pouring in to support the Freedom Truckers.
According to Trudeau, both heads of government have decided that “these blockades cannot continue,” and therefore all measures necessary to clear them will be employed.
Author: Stephanie Stewart
