Dark Clouds Hang Low Over Canada

“The trucker protest grew until it closed vital trade routes along the Canada-U.S. border and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades were ended on February 14. “It has been revealed that Biden pressed on his Canadian counterpart to stop the convoy, with Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland saying that Washington was 'very, very, very worried.’”

“The minister emailed staff on February 10 saying that the US government feared 'all of their northeastern car plants will shut down' if the convoy was not stopped within 12 hours. (Daily Mail) “Freeland had been speaking that same day to Biden's top economic advisor, Brian Deese, who was himself worried about the blockades and said they could cost around $2.9billion in trade. “Freeland has told the inquiry that she worried her country was 'in the process of doing long-term and possibly irreparable harm to our trading relationship with the United States.' “The next day, Deese and Trudeau chief of staff Brian Clow set up a call between the Biden and the prime minister, with Trudeau being given a plan to end the convoy, according to POLITICO. “Trudeau, according to texts between Clow and Freeland, talked to Biden about 'money, people and political/media support' with the likes of Fox News' Tucker Carlson influencing the blockades with nightly coverage.”

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Government had not met the standard for invoking the Emergencies Act

“The next day, and three days after Biden pressed him, Trudeau invoked Canada's Emergencies Act - which had rarely ever been used - to end the protests. “The law was used to freeze bank accounts, ban travel to the protests and compelled tow trucks to remove vehicles from the blockade. “It's unclear that Trudeau's use of the emergency powers had any effect on the convoy, with documents suggesting law enforcement didn't need their invocation to open the border. “The Canadian Civil Liberties Association said the government had not met the standard for invoking the Emergencies Act, which is intended to deal with threats to 'sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,' the group said. “The 'Freedom Convoy' protests, which started by Canadian truckers opposing a COVID-19 vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, have drawn thousands of people opposed to Trudeau's policies. “Protesters camped in front of the Canadian Parliament, some of whom want the prime minister to meet with them, said the latest steps were excessive. “The government also used the Emergencies Act to go after those who financially support illegal protests, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said at the news conference. “Freeland said financial institutions are being given the power to suspend or freeze personal or corporate accounts that are suspected of funding illegal protests. "'We are making these changes because we know that these (crowdfunding) platforms are being used to support illegal blockades and illegal activity which is damaging the Canadian economy,' Freeland said. “Canadian authorities have said about half of the funding for the protests has come from U.S. supporters. Toronto-Dominion Bank last week froze two personal bank accounts that received C$1.4 million ($1.1 million) for the protests.

"We are not limiting freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and people's right to protest freely."

“Trudeau told protesters at the time that they need to 'go home now' - but he's held back deploying the military under the Act, which grants powers that have been used only once before in peacetime, and will now be used to tackle protests over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions. “Trudeau said that invoking the Act would strengthen the police's ability to impose fines and even imprisonment for protesters who blockade borders. “It also granted them the power to tow vehicles, and banks will be given the power to freeze funds associated with protesters if they are used in relation to Freedom Convoy demonstrations. "'We will not and cannot allow these illegal and dangerous activities to continue. There are other ways to express yourselves without engaging in illegal and dangerous activities,' he said. "'We are not using the Emergencies Act to call in the military. We are not limiting freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and people's right to protest freely.' "The provincial premiers of Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and Saskatchewan spoke out opposing Trudeau's extraordinary plan. “In Ontario, which saw the fiercest protests, both in Ottawa and at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Premier Doug Ford said that he was in favor of using the Emergencies Act. "'I support the federal government and any proposal they have to bring law and order back to our province, to make sure we stabilize our business and trade around the world,' he said before meeting with Trudeau on Monday.

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