The Liberal government unreasonably invoked the Emergencies Act to clear the convoy protests that gridlocked the capital city and border points nearly four years ago, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled on Friday.
The court dismissed the government’s appeal of a 2024 ruling which deemed former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to use the legislation unlawful and infringed on protesters’ Charter rights.
“As disturbing and disruptive the blockades and the convoy protests in Ottawa could be, they fell well short of a threat to national security,” wrote the three judges on the appeal court.
I think one of the key things in this ruling was that freezing their bank accounts and funds may have gone too far, in their opinion. But I definitely agree with you.
Cutting people off financially is the gentlest possible rebuke against in-person behavior. It’s a big deal, and a due process nightmare - but it’s as bloodless as state power can be. You wanna buy gas to do this again tomorrow? Ask nicely from the people you’ve been honking at since last month.