Ottawa                                                                           February 18, 2022

 

Questions Arising over Prime Minister Trudeau’s Application of the Emergencies Act

On February 14, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared a public order emergency under the federal Emergencies Act in order to clear protesters and border blockades in Canada.

This decision has far reaching implications, not only on the political life, but also on the social and civic life of all Canadians. REAL Women, therefore, requests a response to questions arising from this action.

Background

The Emergencies Act declaration occurred ostensibly because of a convoy of trucks from across Canada which have remained in the city of Ottawa protesting federal government COVID mandates and restrictions. Of special concern is that these policies have required mandatory medical procedures for individuals, contrary to Canadian law requiring voluntary consent for any medical intervention.  Also, concerns have arisen regarding the curtailment of basic civil rights in Canada during the pandemic relating to the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly, mobility rights and freedom of expression.  Despite the Freedom Convoy’s concerns and legal protest, they have been ridiculed and ignored by Trudeau’s government.

Prime Minister Trudeau’s Response

First question: Why did Mr. Trudeau decline to meet with the truckers to discuss their concerns, despite the fact that they represent the concerns of many Canadians?  This is particularly troubling as Trudeau took a directly opposite approach to the anti-pipeline blockades in February 2020.

On February 18, 2020, Trudeau gave a speech in the House of Commons on the anti-pipeline blockades,

“today as Prime Minister, once again, I am formally extending my hand in partnership and trust.  Over the last eleven days, our government has been working on a path forward … we are creating the space for peaceful, honest dialogue with willing partners … it is our job to choose respect and communication … we need to continue to walk this road together … where extending in good faith for dialogue …”.

Second question: Why does Trudeau insist that federal restrictions must remain in place or only modestly changed?  To date, five Canadian provinces, together with their public health officials have concluded that the pandemic restrictions are no longer required.

Third question: On what basis does Trudeau believe the convoy protesters have “unacceptable views”?

Fourth question: Why is Trudeau not accountable to Canadians?

The history of Mr. Trudeau’s performance as Prime Minister indicates that he does not care what Canadians think or value. He has breached ethical principles and even the law on numerous occasions. If he is not accountable to Canadians, then to whom?

It is a concern that Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, and former Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carney (who described the protest as “sedition”) are members of the World Economic Forum (WEF).  Freeland is a member of the board of trustees of the organization.  WEF calls for the “Great Reset” or “Build Back Better”, concepts that Trudeau and Freeland have also frequently expressed.  These expressions are interpreted as requiring a substantial restructuring of society, economically, socially and politically.  Therefore, why is Trudeau racking up our national debt (over $1.2 trillion and counting), which we will never be able to repay, at least, for generations?  Why does he want to bankrupt this nation?

The federal Emergencies Act

The federal Emergencies Act was passed in 1988, replacing the War Measures Act.  Under the Emergencies Act, the Prime Minister is required to consult with the provinces, which he has done.  The Premiers of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia have rejected the application of the Emergencies Act in their provinces.

Trudeau invoked Part II, the “Public Order Emergency” of the Act which provides that the federal government may invoke the Act in an emergency in regard to public order that “necessitates special, temporary measures”.   If a declaration is made, the Act provides the federal government with sweeping powers including the regulation or prohibition of public assemblies that may lead to a breach of the peace, restriction of travel to or from specified areas, the use of specified property, and conscription of persons to provide services.  Also, anyone who violates the regulations may face a summary conviction, not exceeding $500 or an indictment (criminal offence) of a fine not over $5,000 or imprisonment, not exceeding five years or both.

If a trucker should be convicted of such an offence, even if the indictment is discharged, either fully or conditionally, such a discharge is not acknowledged under U.S. law.  This is significant as such a conviction will prohibit a trucker from crossing the Canadian border into the United States.  This directly affects his livelihood.  In addition, Minister of Finance, Freeland requires that corporate bank accounts are to be frozen and insurance on vehicles be suspended.  Canadian banks have been ordered to freeze the personal and business accounts, without a court order, for those providing funds to support the Freedom Convoy.  Crowd-funding platforms and digital payment providers are to report large and suspicious transfers.  Credit card companies are required to report any activity intended to help the truckers.  Provinces have been requested to remove the driving licenses of truckers.

It is clear that Trudeau’s government intends to disperse the Freedom Convoy by depriving the truckers of their livelihood.

Provisions in the Emergencies Act

The Emergencies Act requires the government to bring this matter as a motion before both Houses of Parliament within seven days of the declaration being made. The declaration is to be debated, until such time as the Speaker is ready for the question. The motion to confirm the declaration must then be approved by both Houses.  If the motion is negated by either House, the declaration is revoked effective on the day of the negative vote.  It is unlikely that there will be any opposition to the declaration in the Senate.  This is due to the fact that since 2016, Trudeau has appointed many senators, who are left-of-centre in perspective. Although not called “Liberal”, these senators are not “independent” as alleged, but will vote according to Trudeau’s dictates.

The New Democratic Party (NDP)

The leader of the NDP Party has agreed to support the declaration, thereby assuring its confirmation.  Since becoming leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh has in effect, merged the party with the Liberal Party.  Mr. Singh described the Freedom Convoy as “a convoy led by those that claim the superiority of the white bloodline and equate Islam to a disease”.

Mr. Singh is part of the wealthy, political elite and does not represent nor understand ordinary working class Canadians. Mr. Singh has separated the NDP from its founding roots and purpose. It was formed, initially called the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), in 1932 in Calgary for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of workers and farmers, the ill and the old, based by way of Christian principles.  Such principles, however, transcends all faiths in that they promote compassion, charity, and justice.  Mr. Singh, however, does not appear to have a concern for such principles or for ordinary working-class Canadians. As a result, his voter base has significantly decreased.  In the 2015 election, the NDP held 44 seats, but in the 2021 election, it won only 25 seats.  There is no longer a need for the NDP in Canada since it has been integrated into the extreme left-of-centre Liberal Party.

Additional Questions to be Addressed

1. Why has Trudeau imposed the Emergencies Act when the facts do not indicate that an “emergency” has occurred?

The left-of-centre Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), released a statement asserting that the protests do not meet the threshold to invoke the Emergencies Act. The organization stated that the Act can only be invoked when it [the situation] seriously threatens the ability of the government that “cannot be effectively dealt with, under any other law in Canada”.  It concluded by stating, that “the Emergencies Act is there to address extreme threats to Canada … not to protect the economy”.

Although Trudeau’s government has repeatedly declared the Freedom Convoy “illegal”, there is no basis for this assumption.

The presence of thousands of truckers and supporters in Ottawa has been astonishingly peaceful. In fact, since the Freedom Convoy arrived in Ottawa, crime rates have fallen!  There has been no arson, no violence and no vandalism. Most businesses are open except for those immediately below the Parliament buildings located on Wellington Street.  These businesses were closed by the police, for alleged safety reasons.  The Rideau Centre on Wellington Street was closed by a police advisory, causing unnecessary, financial losses for businesses and employees (see REAL Women staff report on Feb. 10 2022: https://www.facebook.com/REALWomenofCanada).  It is very clear on the objective evidence that there is no “public order emergency” but rather only a “political emergency” made by Trudeau.

2. Why was the Emergencies Act necessary to open up the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, when many other access border routes were available? There are 119 legal land crossings between Canada and the United States, including in Ontario, the Detroit/Windsor tunnel, Bluewater Bridge (Sarnia), Lewiston Queens Bridge Border. Many crossings are available in Alberta and Manitoba where only one access route in each province has been blocked. The transportation of goods between Canada and the United States continues on at a regular pace and fresh produce remains available in communities across the country.

Summary

These recent events are deeply troubling. They indicate that Canada consists of two classes – the ruling political elites, and everyone else.  The “everyone else” class is made up of English, French, multicultural, multiracial, and Indigenous – ordinary Canadians from all walks of life who simply want to get on with their lives without the lies, manipulation, and intimidation of the last two years.

The federal government is not Canada.  Canada is larger than that.  Canada is made up primarily of families and communities – the central point in this chaos since they have been endangered.

REAL Women remains deeply concerned that the voice of Canadians have been silenced and their rights violated by the imposition of the Emergencies Act.