Opposition MPs are criticizing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for resorting to the Emergencies Act to deal with ongoing protests in Ottawa without first making any attempt to engage in dialogue with protesters.
“Does the Prime Minister really believe that invoking this law should be the first real step the government takes to respond to the siege in Ottawa?” said Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud in the House of Commons.
“He did not send his share of the 1,800 law enforcement officers requested by the City of Ottawa. He did not set up a crisis task force comprising all levels of government and all police forces. He did not consult his Quebec and provincial partners before informing them of his decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.”
While invoking the Act on Feb. 14, Trudeau had said that it is “not something to take lightly. It’s not the first thing you turn to, nor the second nor the third.”
Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri seized on that statement during Question Period, asking Trudeau, “Can the prime minister please tell Canadians what first, second, and third actions he took before invoking the Emergencies Act?”
“For 17 days, the Prime Minister did not lift a finger to help with what was happening here in Ottawa," said Conservative MP Gérard Deltell.
“At one point, he insulted those who were not listening to him and who did not share his point of view. As a result, [on Feb. 14], the Prime Minister invoked a law that has not been used in 50 years.”
Trudeau responded that “From the start, we have been working responsibly with local authorities and the various levels of government to deal with these illegal blockades.”
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino also highlighted the RCMP’s contribution.
“There are three installments of police reinforcements helping the police here in Ottawa. In addition, members of the RCMP have done a lot of good work, not just here in Ottawa but also in Windsor, where the Ambassador Bridge has now reopened,” he said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who supports the use of the Act, said the standoff in Ottawa is due to “a failure to take the crisis seriously at all levels of government,” implying more serious measures should have been taken from the start of the protest. He said the authorities were reluctant to act against the protesters because of their race.
“Now we are seeing indigenous and racialized people look at the double standard of how the convoy is being treated compared to those protesters,” Singh said.
Epoch Times reporters in Ottawa have observed protest participants of all ethnic backgrounds and faiths expressing support for the truckers, as have hundreds of videos of supporters posted online.
Conservative MPs had opposed these blockades, and this point has been used by the government to criticize the Tories who have expressed support for the Freedom Convoy which seeks to lift all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
“It was the former leader of the Conservative Party [Andrew Sheer] ... who once said that it was completely unacceptable for protests to block essential infrastructure. What is the Conservative Party doing today? It is out there taking photos, tweeting, and encouraging protesters, which is irresponsible, considering the protests are costing billions of dollars. It is completely irresponsible,” said government House Leader Mark Holland.
Holland was replying to a Conservative MP’s assertion that Trudeau is using the Emergencies Act to specifically target the people he had already painted with derogatory terms.
“Blockades should come down. They are already coming down across this country, but now the Prime Minister has invoked the Emergencies Act to punish Canadians who, in his words, hold ‘unacceptable views.’ Why is the Prime Minister punishing Canadians for their political views?” said Conservative MP Dane Lloyd.
