OTTAWA – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to supplement Provincial and Territorial capacity to address the blockades and occupations by the ‘Freedom Convoy’ in keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs and restoring confidence on institutions. 

These measures will help get the situation under control, which has been continuing for three weeks. For such, police will be given more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies constitute illegal and dangerous activities, such as blockades and occupations, as seen in capital Ottawa, the Ambassador Bridge, and elsewhere.

However, while invoking such measures, Trudeau has reassured that, ‘these measures must be, and will be, compliant with our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Indeed, the Emergencies Act was created in the eighties to flow from, and uphold, the Charter. We’ll always defend the rights of Canadians to peaceful assembly, and to freedom of expression.’