Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and Canada’s border crossings has calmed down, the Financial Post reports.
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, for the first time last week, saying police needed extra help to end blockades that had been ongoing in downtown Ottawa for weeks and had spread to key Canada-U.S. border crossings.
On Monday, Trudeau said the time-limited, extraordinary powers granted by the Emergencies Act were still needed because his government was worried about blockades returning.
Trudeau now says that order has now been restored and that while threats remain, police and existing legislation will be enough to prevent other occupations.
The House of Commons passed a motion to approve the measures under the act Monday evening, with the NDP voting in favour alongside the minority Liberal government.
The Senate began debating a motion on the act Tuesday.
The legislation gave police the power to designate no-go zones around critical infrastructure including Parliament Hill, border crossings, and bridges.
Regulations under the act also granted powers to make tow trucks essential services, and require banks to freeze accounts of people participating directly or indirectly in the protest.
Police in Ottawa used those powers over the weekend to help push demonstrators out of the core in a massive, multi-day operation.
Downtown Ottawa remains under heavy police supervision. Checkpoints throughout the core, where the parliamentary precinct and surrounding streets are fenced off, are expected to remain throughout the weekend.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s office says the state of emergency he declared on Feb. 11 to deal with anti-vaccine mandate blockades is ending at 5 p.m. today. A statement says “emergency tools” provided to law enforcement will stay in place for now to address activities that are ongoing.
It says Ontario’s state of emergency is being revoked to align with the federal government.
https://financialpost.com/news/economy/trudeau-set-to-revoke-emergencies-act
