Category: Emergencies Act Inquiry

Trudeau Denies at Inquiry Making Previous Derogatory Comments About the Unvaccinated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Emergencies Act inquiry on Nov. 25 that he did not make previous derogatory comments towards the unvaccinated and that he was rather targeting those who spread “misinformation” on public health issues. “I did not call people who are unvaccinated names,” he said. “I highlighted there is a difference between…


Trudeau Says Threshold to Invoke Emergencies Should Not Be Lower Than for CSIS to Launch an Investigation

The threshold to invoke the Emergencies Act should not be lower than for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to launch a national security investigation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Public Order Emergency Commission on Nov. 25. “I would put to you that when invoking the Emergencies Act … the level of thresholds of…


Trudeau Says No Minister or Official Spoke up Against Invoking Emergencies Act

No Liberal minister or federal official spoke out against the invocation of the Emergencies Act during two key meetings where it was discussed, hence creating a consensus for its use, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified at the Public Order Emergency Commission on Nov. 25. “My expectation is always, if you have significant disagreements, this is…


Threat of Violence Was Key Factor in Decision to Invoke Emergencies Act: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau painted a picture of Canada teetering on the edge of violence as he defended his government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in February to end the “Freedom Convoy” protests. Testifying at a public inquiry looking into that choice on Friday, Trudeau said the threat of serious violence was the key…


Feds Will Not Provide Emergencies Act Inquiry the Legal Advice They Received for Use of Act: Justice Minister

The initial legal opinion formed by the federal government to justify invoking the Emergencies Act last February will not be revealed to the public inquiry, implied Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti as he testified on Nov. 23. “I think we have done our best to provide all the information we can. The section…


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Take Stand at Emergencies Act Inquiry

Ottawa — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to appear today at the public inquiry probing his government’s decision to invoke emergency powers in response to last winter’s weeks-long “Freedom Convoy” protests. Trudeau’s testimony will cap six weeks of hearings at the Public Order Emergency Commission, which has already heard from seven Liberal ministers about why…


‘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…