A federal court ruled Tuesday that the Canadian government's use of emergency powers to dislodge the 2022 trucker-led protests that jammed the capital Ottawa's streets for weeks was "unreasonable."

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stood by the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and said the government would appeal the court ruling.

The "Freedom Convoy" of big rigs drove into Ottawa at the end of January 2022 and stayed for nearly a month, causing traffic blockages and angering residents with nearly incessant honking and diesel fumes.&nbsp;

Major Canada-US trade corridors, including a bridge to Detroit that is the busiest international crossing in North America, were also cut off.

Ottawa's former police chief Peter Sloly had called the melee a "tinder box waiting to explode" but protest organisers -- some of whom are currently fighting related criminal charges -- have insisted their actions were legitimate pushback against government's pandemic policies.&nbsp;

Justice Richard Mosley ruled in the case brought forward by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that invoking the Emergencies Act "was not justified", "was unreasonable and led to the infringement of Charter rights."

Watch | Untangled: Plight of the Indian diaspora in Canada

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His ruling comes one year after a commission of inquiry led by former judge Paul Rouleau found the reverse -- that its use was "appropriate" and "a drastic move, but... not a dictatorial one."

Speaking to reporters in Montreal after the federal court decision was handed down, Freeland said "We do not agree with this decision, and respectfully, we will be appealing it."

"I would just like to take a moment to remind Canadians of how serious the situation was in our country when we took that decision," she said, referring to the complex scene on the ground that was plagued by a policing breakdown and escalating threats of violence.

"We were convinced at the time (that) it was the right thing to do, it was the necessary thing to do. I remain and we remain convinced of that," she added.

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Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc recalled, "The capital of a G7 country was effectively paralysed."

Police eventually moved in, towing the trucks out of Ottawa in a crackdown that saw nearly 200 arrests.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association's head Noa Mendelsohn Aviv said in a statement Tuesday that the extraordinary powers of the Emergencies Act, which had never been invoked before 2022, "should be used sparingly and carefully."

"They cannot be used even to address a massive and disruptive demonstration if that could have been dealt with through regular policing and laws," she said. 
&nbsp;

A federal court ruled Tuesday that the Canadian government's use of emergency powers to dislodge the 2022 trucker-led protests that jammed the capital Ottawa's streets for weeks was "unreasonable.

A federal court ruled Tuesday that the Canadian government's use of emergency powers to dislodge the 2022 trucker-led protests that jammed the capital Ottawa's streets for weeks was "unreasonable." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stood by the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and said the government would appeal the court ruling. The "Freedom Convoy" of big rigs drove into Ottawa at the end of January 2022 and stayed for nearly a month, causing traffic blockages and angering residents with nearly incessant honking and diesel fumes. Major Canada-US trade corridors, including a bridge to Detroit that is the busiest international crossing in North America, were also cut off. Ottawa's former police chief Peter Sloly had called the melee a "tinder box waiting to explode" but protest organisers -- some of whom are currently fighting related criminal charges -- have insisted their actions were legitimate pushback against government's pandemic policies. Justice Richard Mosley ruled in the case brought forward by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that invoking the Emergencies Act "was not justified", "was unreasonable and led to the infringement of Charter rights." Watch | Untangled: Plight of the Indian diaspora in Canada × His ruling comes one year after a commission of inquiry led by former judge Paul Rouleau found the reverse -- that its use was "appropriate" and "a drastic move, but... not a dictatorial one." Speaking to reporters in Montreal after the federal court decision was handed down, Freeland said "We do not agree with this decision, and respectfully, we will be appealing it." "I would just like to take a moment to remind Canadians of how serious the situation was in our country when we took that decision," she said, referring to the complex scene on the ground that was plagued by a policing breakdown and escalating threats of violence. "We were convinced at the time (that) it was the right thing to do, it was the necessary thing to do. I remain and we remain convinced of that," she added. Also Read | Flight carrying Rio Tinto workers crashes in Canada’s far north, some onboard killed Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc recalled, "The capital of a G7 country was effectively paralysed." Police eventually moved in, towing the trucks out of Ottawa in a crackdown that saw nearly 200 arrests. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association's head Noa Mendelsohn Aviv said in a statement Tuesday that the extraordinary powers of the Emergencies Act, which had never been invoked before 2022, "should be used sparingly and carefully." "They cannot be used even to address a massive and disruptive demonstration if that could have been dealt with through regular policing and laws," she said.

Canada govt’s use of Emergencies Act to dislodge truckers’ protest ‘unreasonable’: Court

After Canadian Freedom Convoy, US 'People's Convoy' protests pandemic restrictions

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

The drivers, joined by thousands of demonstrators and some 400 vehicles, turned the streets around Parliament into a noisy party zone since first arriving on Jan. 28, in what has become one of the worst crises to hit Trudeau since he took power in 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-just-look-dumb-elon-musk-compares-trudeau-to-hitler-later-deletes-the-tweet-heres-what-he-said-454172">'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said</a>

Police made a handful of arrests Thursday evening, including of Chris Barber, one of the main fundraisers and organisers, after authorities said action was imminent. Barber went without resistance after police told him he was being arrested for mischief.

"We absolutely are committed to end this unlawful demonstration. We have the plan, we have the commitment, we have the resources," interim police chief Steve Bell told reporters on Thursday.&nbsp;Police will set up a perimeter with 100 checkpoints around downtown to stop people without legitimate reason from entering, he said.

"This weekend will look very different than the past three weekends," he added. Previous chief Peter Sloly quit this week amid residents' fury about what they saw as police inaction.

The truckers' protests started against vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers, a measure in place in the United States, too. But slowly it spread across Canada and morphed into an anti-government movement. Protesters blocked several land crossings with the United States, including the busiest, the Ambassador Bridge which connects to Detroit, for six days, hurting both economies.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-issue-an-ultimatum-to-canada-trucker-protestors-leave-capital-or-be-arrested-453881">Police issues ultimatum to Canada truck protestors: Leave capital or be arrested</a>

Calling the blockades a threat to democracy, Trudeau invoked emergency measures on Monday giving his government temporary powers to end the unrest. Government officials said they were worried about extremists causing violence.

Many protesters on Parliament Hill said they would not leave until their demands were met.

"End the mandates, give us our rights and this is over," said Chris Dacey on Thursday. "We'll all go back to our families."

The border blockades turned the pressure on Trudeau to act swiftly, and US&nbsp;President Joe Biden asked him to use federal powers.

"The illegal blockades and occupations have to stop and the borders have to remain open," Trudeau told legislators on Thursday as Parliament started debate on the Emergencies Act, which needs to be passed within seven days of an announcement.

Watch |&nbsp;Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat'

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But the official opposition Conservative Party says there was no need for the Emergencies Act, especially since the border blockades are over. Conservative Parliamentarian Jeremy Patzer told the House of Commons on Thursday that people around the world were alarmed to see Trudeau "come down on peaceful protesters with a sledgehammer."

"It is absolutely shameful," he added.

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years. The drivers, joined by thousands of demonstrators and some 400 vehicles, turned the streets around Parliament into a noisy party zone since first arriving on Jan. 28, in what has become one of the worst crises to hit Trudeau since he took power in 2015. Also read | 'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said Police made a handful of arrests Thursday evening, including of Chris Barber, one of the main fundraisers and organisers, after authorities said action was imminent. Barber went without resistance after police told him he was being arrested for mischief. "We absolutely are committed to end this unlawful demonstration. We have the plan, we have the commitment, we have the resources," interim police chief Steve Bell told reporters on Thursday. Police will set up a perimeter with 100 checkpoints around downtown to stop people without legitimate reason from entering, he said. "This weekend will look very different than the past three weekends," he added. Previous chief Peter Sloly quit this week amid residents' fury about what they saw as police inaction. The truckers' protests started against vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers, a measure in place in the United States, too. But slowly it spread across Canada and morphed into an anti-government movement. Protesters blocked several land crossings with the United States, including the busiest, the Ambassador Bridge which connects to Detroit, for six days, hurting both economies. Also read | Police issues ultimatum to Canada truck protestors: Leave capital or be arrested Calling the blockades a threat to democracy, Trudeau invoked emergency measures on Monday giving his government temporary powers to end the unrest. Government officials said they were worried about extremists causing violence. Many protesters on Parliament Hill said they would not leave until their demands were met. "End the mandates, give us our rights and this is over," said Chris Dacey on Thursday. "We'll all go back to our families." The border blockades turned the pressure on Trudeau to act swiftly, and US President Joe Biden asked him to use federal powers. "The illegal blockades and occupations have to stop and the borders have to remain open," Trudeau told legislators on Thursday as Parliament started debate on the Emergencies Act, which needs to be passed within seven days of an announcement. Watch | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat' But the official opposition Conservative Party says there was no need for the Emergencies Act, especially since the border blockades are over. Conservative Parliamentarian Jeremy Patzer told the House of Commons on Thursday that people around the world were alarmed to see Trudeau "come down on peaceful protesters with a sledgehammer." "It is absolutely shameful," he added.

Canada police set to end siege of capital by protesters fighting COVID measures

Haircuts, hot tubs and hapless police: Canada trucker's protest continues unfazed after emergency

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency measure for the first time in country's history. Trudeau invoked measure to give his govt more power to respond to ongoing anti-govt trucker protests. Emergencies Act allows federal govt to take 'special temporary measures' for 30 days during national emergencies. Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to quell the protests by truckers. The Canadian government is being urged to do more to disperse protests which have led to incidents of harassment and violence in Ottawa.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers amid truckers protest. All you need to know