Tag: Chrystia Freeland

Emergencies Act Author Warned Cabinet of ‘Long Term Issues’ Following Its Use on Convoy Protest: Text Messages

Perrin Beatty, a former Conservative defence minister who helped draft the Emergencies Act in the 1980s, told Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in February text messages that he was worried about possible “long term issues” that might follow the federal government’s use of the emergency powers. “I certainly hope that we’ll see an early, non-violent end…


‘Economic Harm’ No Ground for National Emergency, Says Civil Liberties Group After Freeland’s Testimony

A civil liberties advocacy group says that “economic harm” is not grounds to declare a national emergency, in reaction to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s testimony at the Emergencies Act inquiry on Nov. 24. “The Emergencies Act and the CSIS act do not contemplate economic harm as a national emergency,” said Cara Zwibel of the…


Bank CEOs Suggested Designating Freedom Convoy Protesters as Terrorists to Facilitate Financial Sanctions

The CEOs of major Canadian banks suggested to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland that Freedom Convoy protesters should be designated as terrorists to facilitate imposing financial sanctions, according to a readout of the call between Freeland and bank executives on Feb. 13. “Let me start by saying all options are on…


‘Doesn’t Prevent Spread’: Feds Asked by Premiers, Industry to Remove Vaccine Mandates During Convoy Protests

Some premiers and an industry executive asked the federal government to end its COVID-19 vaccine mandates that sparked the convoy protests across Canada in winter, with some saying the mandates didn’t prevent the spread of COVID-19. “I know it sucks politically to back down and reverse course but does it really pay to carry on…


Freeland Says Call with White House Made Her Realize Protests Needed to Be Ended

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Nov. 24 that a call with the White House’s economic advisor impressed upon her that the Liberal government needed to take action to end last winter’s cross-country protests and blockades. “That one conversation was a seminal one for me, and it was a moment when I realized, as…


Ambassador Bridge Blockade Escalated Economic Threat From ‘Freedom Convoy’: Deputy PM

OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the economic threat to Canada escalated “exponentially” when “Freedom “Convoy” protesters blocked a key trade hub between the United States and Canada in early February. Freeland, who is also the deputy prime minister, is testifying today at a public inquiry investigating the Liberal government’s use of the Emergencies…


Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland to Testify on ‘Freedom Convoy’ at Emergencies Act Inquiry

Ottawa — Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is next on the witness list at the public inquiry probing the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in response to weeks-long protests last winter. Freeland, who is also the federal finance minister, was the lead on emergency economic powers given to banks and other financial institutions…


Trudeau Should’ve Called for Official Investigation into Chinese Election Interference Allegations, Says Poilievre

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told MPs in the House today that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should’ve called for an official investigation into allegations that China interfered in Canada’s 2019 election as soon as he was briefed on the matter in January. “Ten months ago, CSIS informed the prime minister of allegations that a foreign government…


Cabinet Proposed Reporting to Police as Requirement to Have Bank Accounts Unfrozen: Meeting Minutes

The federal government considered requiring alleged Freedom Convoy supporters who had their bank accounts frozen to report to police before being allowed to regain account access, said the minutes of a confidential cabinet meeting that were marked “secret.” Minutes from the closed Liberal cabinet meeting on Feb. 21 show that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister…


Federal Public Debt Charges Expected to Hit $53 Billion by 2024: Parliamentary Budget Office

Federal debt charges are expected to hit $53 billion by 2024, says the Parliamentary Budget Office in its “Risk Scenario Analysis” report. Published on Nov. 10, the report says that the debt service ratio, which is public debt charges relative to tax revenues, is projected to reach 14.3 percent in 2024. “Public debt charges are…