Canada Invokes Emergencies Act to Bring Protests and Blockades 'Under Control'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on February 14 to give temporary powers to the federal government to respond to ongoing blockades and protests.

Trudeau said police would be given more tools to deal with “illegal and dangerous activities” such as blockades and occupations by “strengthening their ability to impose fines or imprisonment.”

He also said the government would take further steps to protect critical infrastructure, such as border crossings and airports.

Under the measures, crowdfunding platforms will be required to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre. They must also “report large and suspicious transactions,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said.

Trudeau said the scope of the measures would be “time limited, geographically targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address.” Credit: Justin Trudeau via Storyful

Video Transcript

JUSTIN TRUDEAU: After discussing with cabinet and caucus, after consultation with premiers from all provinces and territories, after speaking with opposition leaders, the federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act to supplement provincial and territorial capacity to address the blockades and occupations. I want to be very clear. The scope of these measures will be time limited geographically targeted, as well as reasonable and proportionate to the threats they are meant to address. The Emergencies Act will be used to strengthen and support law enforcement agencies at all levels across the country. This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people's jobs and restoring confidence in our institutions. Here's how the measures we're taking today will help get the situation under control. The police will be given more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies can constitute illegal and dangerous activities, such as blockades and occupations as seen in Ottawa, the Ambassador Bridge and elsewhere. These tools include strengthening their ability to impose fines or imprisonment. The government will designate, secure and protect places and infrastructure that are critical to our economy and people's jobs, including border crossings and airports. We cannot and will not allow illegal and dangerous activities to continue. The Emergencies Act will also allow the government to make sure essential services are rendered, for example, in order to tow vehicles blocking roads. In addition, financial institutions will be authorized or directed to render essential services to help address the situation, including by regulating and prohibiting the use of property to fund or support illegal blockades. Finally, we'll enable the RCMP to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial offenses where required. This is what the Emergencies Act does. Let me be equally clear about what it does not do. We're not using the Emergencies Act to call in the military. We're not suspending fundamental rights or overriding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are not limiting people's freedom of speech. We are not limiting freedom of peaceful assembly. We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally. We are reinforcing the principles, values and institutions that keep all Canadians free.