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.

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>

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

The truckers' "Freedom Convoy 2.0" demonstration scheduled to take place in Ottawa next month, a year after the city was brought to a grinding halt, has been called off.

The truckers' "Freedom Convoy 2.0" demonstration scheduled to take place in Ottawa next month, a year after the city was brought to a grinding halt, has been called off. James Bauder, the founder of a group called Canada Unity which oversaw the organising of the protests last year, said the repeat event was cancelled because he could not "guarantee public safety" and that going ahead with the protests could have invited severe sanctions. Bauder cited "several security breaches and personal character attacks" on himself as another reason for backing out of the event, according to an AFP report. In December, Bauder said he would bring a four-day event back to Ottawa on the first anniversary of the 2022 demonstration and that all the big rigs would make daily trips to Parliament Hill. However, after the authorities suggested that they would take a 'zero-tolerance' approach toward such a protest, Bauder said he would take the convoy to Winnipeg instead. In a Facebook post, Bauder, however, hinted at staging a comeback in 2024 after a year of 'solid' planning. "If the plan goes well, in Feb 2024. (will take a solid year to plan properly) I will be in Toronto with Team Canada Unity attending as a guest at a Sacred Ceremony event that could be viewed as Biblical... (No peeking) First, let's get to the Truth." WATCH | Canada's freedom convoy sparks inspiration in Europe: Protestors will drive to Brussels, Paris × What was Freedom Convoy? The protest initially started as a rally against the vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers. However, soon, the truckers changed their tune and the rally became a demonstration against the Canadian government's overreach during the pandemic as protesters took an anti-vaccination stance. While the protests largely remained non-violent, Trudeau, not used to facing resistance in his backyard, invoked the Emergencies Act and became the first Canadian PM to do so. Testifying in front of an independent public commission in November last year, Trudeau defended the decision to use 'emergency powers'. "It wasn’t that they just wanted to be heard. They wanted to be obeyed. I am absolutely, absolutely serene and confident that I made the right choice in agreeing with the invocation," said Trudeau. Read more: Trudeau defends the use of emergency powers to quash the 'Freedom Convoy' protests During the testifying, one of the lawyers representing the convoy organisers asked Trudeau if he was 'afraid' of his own citizens. "When did you and your government start to become so afraid of your own citizens?" To which Trudeau replied, “I am not and we are not." Read more: Canada PM Justin Trudeau leaves home over security concerns as truckers protest against vaccine mandates Several estimates have suggested that the Freedom convoy protests last year cost the Ottawa city exchequer more than $52 million. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Canada's 'Freedom Convoy 2.0' protest, scheduled to take place next month, cancelled by organiser

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