Justin Trudeau revokes emergency powers after quelling Canada blockades
- The emergencies act had allowed police to freeze truckers’ bank accounts and make towing companies haul away ‘Freedom Convoy’ vehicles
- The occupation of downtown Ottawa was cleared last week after over 190 arrests were made in the largest police operation in Canadian history
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday he is removing emergency powers police can use after authorities ended the border blockades by those opposed to Covid-19 restrictions as well as the occupation of downtown Ottawa.
Trudeau invoked the powers last week and lawmakers affirmed the powers late Monday. Trudeau said then the powers were still needed but noted they would not stay in place a day longer than necessary.
“The situation is no longer an emergency, therefore the federal government will be ending the use of the emergencies act,” Trudeau said. “We are confident that existing laws and by-laws are sufficient to keep people safe.”
The emergencies act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers’ personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles.
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Canadian anti-vaccine ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests inspire demonstrations in Europe, New Zealand
The trucker protest grew until it closed a handful of Canada-US border posts and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet.