It appears that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took Biden’s dreadful advice and used the full force of the Canadian federal government to quell the very popular and expanding Freedom Convoy demonstrations.
How will that work out for him?
To begin with, let’s recall that Trudeau didn’t exactly get a “mandate of the people” in September’s election. In fact, under the Canadian parliamentary system, he leads a “minority government.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has won a minority government, the country’s public broadcaster projected, after a close election battle against the opposition Conservatives.CBC News reported late on Monday that the Liberals would get the most seats in Canada’s 44th Parliament but would fall short of the 170-seat threshold needed for a majority.
This means that he will need the backing of other parties. Current press reports indicate there is support…for now.
The Canadian Parliament has to approve the use of the act within seven days of the government invoking the emergency measures. Parliament also has the power to revoke its approval.Trudeau’s Liberal minority government needs help from the opposition to pass his use of the act in Parliament. On Monday, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh said his left-leaning party would be willing to back the move if it means ending the protests.
However, as Canadians consider the scope of powers directed at men and women engaged in protests involving Canadian flags, bouncy houses, and hot tubs, I suspect many Members of Parliament will be contacted with complaints, concerns…and outrage. It is impressive how voter anger can focus the mind.
And there may be members of Trudeau’s Liberal Party who will break ranks in light of the dictatorial scheme that smears average citizens who want to petition their government for a redress of vaccine-mandate grievances. One already has, and others may be inspired to join in.
Joël Lightbound delivered the stunning, scathing assessment Tuesday in Ottawa with the big rigs of the so-called Freedom Convoy just outside the door. The convoy protests against Covid measures have grabbed global attention and paralyzed the Canada’s capital city for more than a week.“Both the tone and the policies of my government changed drastically on the eve and during the last election campaign,” said Lightbound, who convened a press conference to deliver his message. “A decision was made to wedge, to divide and to stigmatize. I fear that this politicization of the pandemic risks undermining the public’s trust in our public health institutions.”Publicly breaking ranks with one’s own party on such a major issue is a rarity in Canadian politics, especially when the party is in power.
Furthermore, Trudeau’s “Emergencies Act” may not stand up in court, either.
Any temporary laws made under the act are subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. That means any attempt by the government to suspend the civil rights of Canadians, even in an emergency, can be challenged in court.
The Freedom Convoy has its cadre of lawyers: Truckers Law. I suspect that plans are being made to take the “Emergencies Act” to court, where the truth about the nature of COVID-19, the mandates, and the heart of the protests will be more robustly explored than they have been in the compliant, Trudeau-supporting Canadian press.
I look forward to seeing how Team Trudeau explains its use of terrorism finance laws to target the small donations from middle-class Canadians who support the truckers’ goals. It will be fascinating to see how the current Canadian political leadership defines “Emergencies” under this powerful act befits the response to a virus that now causes health effects that are hard to distinguish from colds, allergies, or the flu in the vast majority of people.
We will see in a week if the advice Biden gave to Trudeau was sound or senseless. I know which way I would bet.
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