Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a rare move in Canadian political history and invoked the Emergencies Act, giving the federal government powers to address and bring to an end ongoing protests. The move came despite opposition from several provinces.
“After discussing with cabinet and caucus after consultation with different premiers from all provinces and territories and speaking with opposition leaders the federal government has invoked the emergencies act,” Trudeau said.
“The federal government is ready to use more tools at its disposal to get the situation fully under control,” said the prime minister.
The Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act authorizes the government to take special temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies.
Conservative Interim Leader Candice Bergen said during Question Period on Monday that, in using the act, the prime minister could be escalating rather than de-escalating an already inflamed situation.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh expressed his support for the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, the CBC reported.
“This is an emergency,” the CBC reports Singh saying.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves Francois Blanchet said he does not want to see the act invoked in Quebec.
Quebec does not want emergency measures, nor does it want the soldiers of Canada deployed in our country. Ontario speaks for Ontario, Quebec for Quebec, said Blanchet on Twitter.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said that invoking the Emergencies Act is not necessary for his province and would advise the prime minister against it, CBC reported.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said on Twitter that he does not support the prime minister’s decision.
“If the federal government does proceed with this measure, I would hope it would only be invoked in provinces that request it, as the legislation allows,” said Moe.
The Saskatchewan premier said police have enough tools to enforce the law and clear the blockades.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson also said she does not support the prime minister’s decision.
“I am not currently satisfied the Emergencies Act should be applied in Manitoba. Winnipeg’s situation is dramatically different from the one in Ottawa,” she said.
“The Emmerson border situation is very different than the one facing Windsor,” Stefanson said in a media release Monday.
The Ambassador Bridge – a crucial border crossing – that connects Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ont., was reopened on Sunday after protesters were cleared, Canada Border Agency confirmed.
Leader of People’s Party of Canada Maxime Bernier said that the act is being invoked not because there is an emergency or threat to national security, but because the prime minister feels he is “losing face.”
On Monday, the RCMP said they arrested 11 people at the Coutts border crossing to the U.S. in southern Alberta; those arrested had access to firearms and large quantities of ammunition.
During the execution of the search warrants, police said the following items were seized:
- Handguns
- 13 long guns
- Multiple sets of body armour
- A machete
- A large quantity of ammunition; and
- High-capacity magazines.
Emergency Preparedness Minister, Bill Blair told the CBC on the weekend that the act is being invoked as “appropriate caution.”
The federal government does not plan to deploy the military.
“Let me be equally clear of 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 freedom,” said Trudeau.
Anti-vaccine mandate protesters have been occupying Ottawa for 21 days now with large crowds still present in the capital.
On Friday a state of emergency in Ontario was declared by Premier Doug Ford.