The federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act in response to the Freedom Convoy protests last winter was no excuse for infringing on Canadians’ privacy, says federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne. “I recognize emergencies evolve rapidly and require swift and effective responses to address extraordinary public needs,” Dufresne wrote to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Declaration…
Emergency Powers Were No Excuse for Privacy Infringements During Convoy Protest, Says Commissioner
Legal Advocacy Group Urges Emergencies Act Inquiry Commissioner Not to Send Report to Feds in Advance
The Institute for Freedom and Justice (IFJ), a registered charity based in Moncton, New Brunswick, has written a letter objecting to the Governor in Council and Cabinet receiving the final report from the Emergencies Act inquiry before it is made public. The legal advocacy organization’s letter to Commissioner Paul Rouleau, the justice chairing the Public…
Hundreds Gather on Parliament Hill to Commemorate First Anniversary of Freedom Convoy Protest
Hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions last winter. The day was festive, and reminiscent of the atmosphere when the convoy first arrived in the nation’s capital at the end of January 2022. Music was played, and people were seen waving…
City of Ottawa Says Thousands of Tickets Issued During Freedom Convoy Protest Unpaid After One Year
The City of Ottawa said thousands of tickets issued during last year’s “Freedom Convoy” protest have not been paid, with only about half of the total value of the fines received after one year. Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 18, 2022, when protesters gathered at the national capital, officials handed out a total of 3,812…
On First Anniversary of Freedom Convoy, Protesters Tell Their Stories
This weekend will be the first anniversary of the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, an event that lasted about a month and ended with the controversial invocation of the Emergencies Act. When the first trucks of the convoy rolled out of Prince Rupert on Jan. 22 last year, and…
‘Handful of Angry People’ Don’t Define Democracy, Trudeau Says on Hamilton Protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Jan. 25 that he received an “extraordinary” and “warm” welcome from people in Hamilton and that the “angry” people that protested his stay in the city do not represent democracy in Canada. “The welcome that I’ve gotten here in Hamilton has been extraordinary. The people I’ve met, the students…
Passport Backlog Update Expected as Federal Cabinet Retreat Enters Second Day
The Liberal cabinet will head into the second of a three-day retreat in Hamilton today with a lengthy to-do list, including tackling inflation and making the country more competitive. “Lots of work to do,” Trudeau said as he arrived at a meeting Monday with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Later today, however, they intend to…
BMO CEO Addresses Suggestion to Designate Convoy Protesters as ‘Terrorists’ to Freeze Accounts
The CEO of Canadian bank BMO addressed on Jan. 19 the revelation that he had recommended to the finance minister that Freedom Convoy protesters be designated as “terrorists” to facilitate the freezing of their financial accounts last year. “I would never call the convoy protesters terrorists. What was said is that in order for the…
Finance Official Wanted to Shield Banks After Freezing of Convoy Supporters’ Accounts: Emails
The federal deputy finance minister wanted to “keep the heat off the bank branches” after accounts belonging to supporters of the Freedom Convoy movement were frozen, according to internal emails from the finance department. “You should know that there have been threatening activities at certain bank branches,” Michael Sabia wrote to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland…
Trudeau Interrupts Media Interview to Speak With Man Who Attended Freedom Convoy Protest
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped away from a year-end media interview in Toronto to speak with a man who had been standing across the street, filming with his phone. “Why don’t you come over here?” said Trudeau to the observer during his year-end interview with CTV News senior editor Omar Sachedina at Kensington Market in December. The…
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