https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60383385https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/14/world/canada-protests-newshttps://www.foxnews.com/live-news/canadian-truckers-ambassador-bridge-reopens-2-dozen-arrestedEven though the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge has been cleared out and international traffic resumed, and all that remains of protests are peaceful demonstrations around the country (aside from acts of violence
targeting protesters), Justin Trudeau has formally invoked the Emergencies Act. This allows him to declare martial law and the suspension of all civil liberties in Canada, the suspension of habeus corpus, the protection of courts and local government jurisdiction. He now holds direct military and federal rule over the country while the democratic government is suspended.
Under the Emergencies Act, Trudeau now acts as dictator and has the power to:
- Prohibit travel to and from anywhere
- Evacuate or removal people to and from anywhere
- The seizure of any property
- Demand the forced, paid labor or services of anyone able to provide it
- Control the distribution of all materials
- Authorize any funding and payments
- Set up shelters and hospitals
- Fine anyone up to $5000 and/or imprison them up to 5 years without any trial or civil rights.
While he has the power to direct the Canadian military to arrest anyone and put down any demonstration by force, Trudeau has announced he will not call the military, at this time. So while he now formally invoked martial law and can roll in the tanks to crush the protesters, he says the
current application of the Emergencies Act will be used to seize both personal and business bank accounts of anyone involved in protests or providing financial support to protesters (without trial), will suspend their vehicular insurance, will imprison and fine people for peacefully protesting, seize their vehicles, force towing companies to tow vehicles against their will, and mobilize the federal police to enforce local laws in local jurisdiction. For someone who has now formally given himself the power to send in the tanks, the only limitation against that is his own assurance, given in the same speech where he declared "we are not limiting people’s freedom of speech" as he vowed to arrest people and seize their bank accounts for peacefully voicing their political views.
Notably, Trudeau's father the former PM Trudeau had invoked the War Measures Act, predecessor to the Emergencies Act, in response to socialist separatist terrorists kidnapping and holding for ransom the UK diplomat and assassinating Quebec's Deputy Premier. In that case, he was tasked with putting down a violent insurgency and terrorist plot and responded with force. In this case, the younger Trudeau faced the peaceful demonstrations of working class folks opposed to his authoritarian vaccine mandates, that run against science now that Canada already has 85%+ vaccination rate and forcing the rest to get vaccinated can't be justified as a compelling need that overrides their personal rights. And just last year, Trudeau gave public support to Indian Farmers protesting against the country's new farm bill and blocking major highways to New Nelhi. He was quoted as saying
"Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest", in response to Indian farmers blocking freeways. And prior to invoking martial law today, Trudeau said in his speech that the emergency powers act is to be used sparingly and only as a last resort. It was the first action he's taken regarding this protest.
Already, several premiers have made public statements denouncing the declaration and saying they do not support Trudeau declaring martial law. But premiers no longer hold democratic power because its a "temporary" dictatorship.
https://twitter.com/PremierScottMoe/status/1493300606978588672https://twitter.com/HStefansonMB/status/1493311829547827203https://twitter.com/RosieBarton/status/1493298327533678594