<p>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."</p>

<p>Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stood by the decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and said the government would appeal the court ruling.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>Major Canada-US trade corridors, including a bridge to Detroit that is the busiest international crossing in North America, were also cut off.</p>

<p>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;</p>

<p>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."</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Untangled: Plight of the Indian diaspora in Canada</strong></p>

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<p>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."</p>

<p>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."</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p>"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.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flight-carrying-rio-tinto-workers-crashes-in-canadas-far-north-some-onboard-killed-683113">Flight carrying Rio Tinto workers crashes in Canada’s far north, some onboard killed</a></strong></p>

<p>Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc recalled, "The capital of a G7 country was effectively paralysed."</p>

<p>Police eventually moved in, towing the trucks out of Ottawa in a crackdown that saw nearly 200 arrests.</p>

<p>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."</p>

<p>"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.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


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

<p>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday that Canada will end the rarely used emergency measures used nine days ago to deal with weeks-long protests that shut some border crossings and paralysed Ottawa since late January.</p>

<p>"The situation is no longer an emergency. Therefore, the federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act," he told a news conference.</p>

<p>"We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-justin-trudeaus-government-fires-a-woman-for-donating-100-to-protesters-454906">Canada: Justin Trudeau's government fires a woman for donating $100 to protesters</a></strong></p>

<p>Prime Minister Trudeau said Canada's governor-general will formally revoke the emergency measures in the coming hours.</p>

<p>Following Trudeau's announcement last week, the Emergencies Act was approved by the House of Commons on Monday, but not without opposition.</p>

<p>Invoking the powers was seen by the main opposition Conservative Party and some provincial leaders as overreaching.</p>

<p>The government said that the use of these powers would have a time limit. According to Trudeau, the powers were needed because the blockades threatened the economy and the public and because they helped coordinate the police forces.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/major-win-for-pm-justin-trudeau-canadas-parliament-approves-emergencies-act-455220">Major win for PM Justin Trudeau: Canada's parliament approves Emergencies Act</a></strong></p>

<p>"Trudeau backs down," Pierre Poilievre, a Conservative lawmaker who is running for leadership of the party, said on Twitter. "Thank you to all who fought this abuse of power."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: Trudeau backs down. Will drop Emergencies Act. Thank you to all who fought this abuse of power. <a href="https://t.co/Aj4L74ZTli">pic.twitter.com/Aj4L74ZTli</a></p>
— pierrepoilievre (@PierrePoilievre) <a href="https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1496596235851124742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>These powers included freezing the accounts of those suspected of supporting the blockades without obtaining a court order.</p>

<p>According to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the purpose of freezing the accounts was "to convince people who took part in the occupation and the illegal blockades to listen to reason," adding that the government had already ordered banks to unfreeze the accounts.</p>

<p>The aim of freezing the accounts was &nbsp;Freeland said, adding that the government had already asked banks to begin "to unfreeze these bank accounts."</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Canada: Freedom convoy protests end in Ottawa but Justin Trudeau still backs emergency powers</strong></p>

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<p>Ontario has also ended a state of emergency it declared earlier this month in response to protests.</p>

<p>The protests, which began as opposition to Trudeau's minority Liberal government's mandate on vaccinations for truck drivers, were put to an end over the weekend in Ottawa.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday that Canada will end the rarely used emergency measures used nine days ago to deal with weeks-long protests that shut some border crossings and paralysed Ottawa since late January.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday that Canada will end the rarely used emergency measures used nine days ago to deal with weeks-long protests that shut some border crossings and paralysed Ottawa since late January. "The situation is no longer an emergency. Therefore, the federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act," he told a news conference. "We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," he said. Also read | Canada: Justin Trudeau's government fires a woman for donating $100 to protesters Prime Minister Trudeau said Canada's governor-general will formally revoke the emergency measures in the coming hours. Following Trudeau's announcement last week, the Emergencies Act was approved by the House of Commons on Monday, but not without opposition. Invoking the powers was seen by the main opposition Conservative Party and some provincial leaders as overreaching. The government said that the use of these powers would have a time limit. According to Trudeau, the powers were needed because the blockades threatened the economy and the public and because they helped coordinate the police forces. Also read | Major win for PM Justin Trudeau: Canada's parliament approves Emergencies Act "Trudeau backs down," Pierre Poilievre, a Conservative lawmaker who is running for leadership of the party, said on Twitter. "Thank you to all who fought this abuse of power." BREAKING: Trudeau backs down. Will drop Emergencies Act. Thank you to all who fought this abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/Aj4L74ZTli — pierrepoilievre (@PierrePoilievre) February 23, 2022 × These powers included freezing the accounts of those suspected of supporting the blockades without obtaining a court order. According to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the purpose of freezing the accounts was "to convince people who took part in the occupation and the illegal blockades to listen to reason," adding that the government had already ordered banks to unfreeze the accounts. The aim of freezing the accounts was Freeland said, adding that the government had already asked banks to begin "to unfreeze these bank accounts." Watch | Canada: Freedom convoy protests end in Ottawa but Justin Trudeau still backs emergency powers Ontario has also ended a state of emergency it declared earlier this month in response to protests. The protests, which began as opposition to Trudeau's minority Liberal government's mandate on vaccinations for truck drivers, were put to an end over the weekend in Ottawa. (With inputs from agencies)

'Trudeau backs down': Canadian PM revokes emergency powers

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