Canada

Trudeau Ends Emergency Powers Invoked to Quell Protests

FEB 24 2022·Updated JAN 5 2023

Story

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The Facts

Canadian PM Trudeau on Wednesday revoked the use of the Emergencies Act used to quell protests against COVID mandates, which had brought Ottawa and several border crossings to a standstill since late January.
Reuters
This comes after Ottawa police on Saturday declared the vast majority of the three-week 'Freedom Convoy' protests extinguished.
NBC
Until last weekend, the protests had been largely peaceful, but the final push to clear the main protest area brought allegations of agression from both protesters and law enforcement alike.
nytimes
The act -- which granted powers to create no-go zones, halt public assemblies, and freeze bank accounts -- was approved in the House of Commons on Monday after being announced last week. The Senate was in the midst of debating it when it was revoked.
CBC
Its use was met by opposition from the Conservative Party and several provincial leaders. An inquiry into the decision to invoke the act and police actions that followed will begin within 60 days.
CBC

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The protesters represent a minority view and they used a campaign of intimidation, a hallmark of terrorism. The blockade posed a real threat to Canada's economy; it was both necessary and justified for Trudeau to evoke emergency powers.

AlterNet

Narrative B

The use of emergency powers to silence dissent was a clear attack on freedom and liberty. The Ottawa authorities met civil rights activism with police brutality. This is a dark moment in the history of Canada.

Daily Wire