Digital Desk: On Monday, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau invoked seldom used emergency powers in an attempt to quell demonstrations that have closed some US border crossings and immobilised sections of the city.
Under the Emergencies Act, the government enacted measures to cut off demonstrators' funding as well as efforts to strengthen provincial and municipal law enforcement with federal police.
"The blockades are damaging our economy and putting public safety at risk," Justin Trudeau said at a press conference. "We cannot and will not tolerate the continuation of unlawful and harmful activity."
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The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, on the other hand, said that the government had not satisfied the requirement for invoking the Emergencies Act, which is meant to deal with threats to "sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity."
The "Freedom Convoy" rallies, which began with Canadian truckers opposing a COVID-19 vaccinate-or-quarantine rule for cross-border drivers, drew individuals opposed to Trudeau's policies on everything from pandemic restrictions to a carbon tax. Trucker demonstrations have also taken place in Israel, France, Australia, and New Zealand.
Protesters had been blocking the Ambassador Bridge, a crucial commerce route between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, for six days before police dispersed the demonstration on Sunday, while others had blocked down minor border crossings in Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Protests in the nation's capital, Ottawa, have reached their third week.
Protesters camping out in front of Canada's Parliament, some of whom want the prime minister to meet with them, have called the recent actions disproportionate. "It's an unnecessary severe approach," said protester Candice Chapel.
The financial measures bring crowdfunding platforms under terror-finance oversight, authorize Canadian banks to freeze accounts suspected of funding the blockades and suspend insurance on vehicles in the protests, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said.
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