Canada Appeals Court Ruling on 2022 Emergencies Act Use
The Spin
Left narrative
Critics may question the Emergencies Act now that everything is settled, but they ignore dangers posed by the Freedom Convoy at the time: pollution, incessant noise, blockades, and intimidation, not to mention border closures. The government was legally justified under the circumstances to address this immediate threat to the public. Even the freezing of bank accounts was legally supported as a measure to prevent further funding of the riotous convoy.
Right narrative
The Trudeau government severely abused its authority by using the Emergencies Act to criminalize protests and freeze bank accounts, actions that were unsurprisingly deemed unconstitutional by the federal court. There was no national emergency, yet Trudeau's draconian measures infringed on Canadians' civil liberties, arresting even peaceful protesters. This misuse of power was a clear violation of the Charter and should be remembered that way.