Monday, February 21, Canadian parliamentarians adopted the use of an emergency law invoked on February 14 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The stated reason: to put an end, after three weeks, to the demonstrations of occupation and the blockades undertaken by the Freedom Convoy which demands the abolition of health restrictions.
The Canadian Prime Minister also justified the extension of the duration of the state of emergency on the grounds that the Freedom Convoy could return, suggesting that his government therefore does not plan to lift the health restrictions anytime soon.
After a multi-day debate in the House of Commons, MPs voted 185 to 151 in favor of the Emergencies Act, a legislative provision that the Government of Canada can use in the event of “ national crisis “. The Senate (upper house) must now debate it in turn.
The left votes for, the right against
To pass the law, the Liberal Party (left) of Justin Trudeau was able to count on the support of the New Democratic Party (NDP, left). Among environmentalists, Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada (left), also spoke in favor of the law. The Conservative Party – whose leader, Erin O’Toole, was ejected during the Covid crisis to be replaced by Candice Bergen – and the Bloc Québécois (BQ, right) voted against. The latter castigated Justin Trudeau’s desire to want, without valid reason, to maintain the state of emergency, denouncing in a communicated nothing less than a takeover as police operations forcibly removed protesters from the streets of Ottawa.
« Shame ! », « Disgusting! », « It’s a terrible day! exclaimed the Conservatives when the results of the vote were announced. If the deputies had voted against, the state of emergency would have immediately ended. Government institutions had already begun to freeze the bank accounts of some protesters in recent days, these measures had been implemented without prior approval from Parliament. The objective behind the ratification of the law was therefore to give it a certain democratic legitimacy, which the left made possible.
Derek Sloan, founder of the new True North party, commented on Twitter : « Parliament approved the text of the law, even when the “urgency” disappeared. “People don’t agree with us” has now become a justification for suspending civil liberties. Justin Trudeau, supported by Doug Ford, officially placed Canada under tyrannical rule. »
Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party, argued that there was never any “emergency” and denounced the application of a law for ” potential emergencies “when she should apply for emergencies” that exist ».
Trudeau says he needs the extraordinary powers of the Act because there could be other blockages. Not only were there no emergencies, but it applies to those that *exist* and not to potential emergencies. Another proof that it is an abuse of power.
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) February 22, 2022