Canadian supremo Justin Trudeau declared the Emergencies Act for the first time to stop the hue and cry of the Canadian truck drivers over a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate.
These truck drivers started a ‘Freedom Convoy’ across strategic locations that are important to trade especially in the automobile industry between the US and Canada.
Trudeau’s father former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau had once over 50 years ago invoked the earlier version of the Emergencies Act called the War Measures Act to curb the Quebec terrorism crisis; This was in October 1970.
The bone of contention: Just this January a fleet of trucks were used as barricades at strategic locations in Ottawa. The Canadian truck drivers felt a loss of freedom when the Canadian Government made it compulsory to either get vaccinated or stay quarantined every time they make a trip back from the US.
So the truck drivers now the protestors named their fight as ‘ Freedom Convoy’. Many conservative groups agreed with the drivers and opposed Trudeau’s move. Protestors started halting regular businesses, harassing people.
Trudeau stated, “This is not a peaceful protest.”
The protestors reached the PM’s office, Canada’s parliament.
Repercussions – US and Canada’s trade takes a hit: They blocked the Ambassador bridge which is the crucial trade route connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan, for 6 days.
This blockade cost an estimated $323 million to $ 1 billion a day’s worth of goods and services which was cited by Arthur Wheaton, from Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
The most hit was the automobile industry.
Powers of the Emergencies Act: The Canadian Government for the next 30 days from the day of declaration holds the power to
- Block all the accounts of the protestors.
- Barr any road barrication activities at airports, border-crossings.
- By the Act seize trucks and vehicles used for barrication.
- Stop any public gathering by the protestors.
- It’s a democracy, however, any protests beyond the law will be barred.
- crowdfunding platforms to come under scrutiny; route the money via Combating the Financing of Terrorism checks.
The Act cuts some slack: Trudeau clearly stated that the police force won’t carry out any armed intervention.
The Act will not take away basic ‘Fundamental Rights’ from its citizens.
