Canada: Court Rules Emergencies Act Use During Freedom Convoy 'Unreasonable'

Did Trudeau's Emergencies Act invocation criminalize peaceful protests, or was it a necessary response to lawlessness?

Published 1 day ago·Updated 20 hours ago

Canada: Court Rules Emergencies Act Use During Freedom Convoy 'Unreasonable'

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Above: Protester holds sign against COVID-19 mandates in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 5, 2022. Image credit: Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

Canadians won today. The Federal Court of Appeal confirmed the Trudeau government unlawfully weaponized emergency powers against peaceful protesters, criminalizing dissent and freezing bank accounts of ordinary Canadians who simply opposed government policy. This landmark ruling proves the legal threshold for invoking the Emergencies Act was never met and governments cannot override fundamental freedoms at their whim. Accountability must begin now for this profound democratic failure that vilified and punished citizens instead of engaging in dialogue.

Canadian Constitution Foundation

Tamara Lich on X

Eva Chipiuk on X

Pro-government narrative

Today's Federal Court of Appeal ruling is a loss for good governance in Canada. The Emergencies Act met the very high legal threshold needed to address a national crisis, where lawful protest had descended into lawlessness, with downtown Ottawa gridlocked for 18 days and border points blocked. Commissioner Rouleau found credible evidence of a public order emergency, and cabinet reasonably feared the situation was worsening. The extraordinary powers were necessary to restore peace, order and good government after policing failures created conditions requiring federal intervention.

CBC

Mark Carney on X The Globe and Mail

Cynical narrative

The court ruled the Emergencies Act was used illegally, but nobody will face consequences. Trudeau, Freeland and Ottawa’s officials violated Canadians’ rights, froze bank accounts and made arrests — and yet, will face zero accountability. If breaking the Charter carries no cost, what’s the point of this “victory” for justice at all?

Paul Mitchell on X

Ryan Gerritsen on X