Justin Trudeau’s decision to enact the federal Emergencies Act is unprecedented. The legislation has never been used – not during 9-11 and not during the 2014 attacks on Parliament Hill – since it was adopted in the 1980s as a replacement to the War Measures Act, which was last used by Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In their announcement, the federal Trudeau Liberals threatened they would use their emergency powers to implement a variety of measures including potentially freezing the bank accounts of those protesting COVID-19 mandates, or anyone fundraising to support such protests, as well as potentially suspending the insurance of any vehicle present at a protest.
The premiers of Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan each opposed Trudeau’s announcement.
But Ontario’s PC Premier, Doug Ford, not only supported the move but also paved the political road for his friend Justin Trudeau to take such an aggressive and possibly dangerous step.
Three days earlier, Ford announced a “state of emergency” in Ontario and on the morning of Trudeau’s announcement, Ford stated his Ontario PC government was ready to use “every tool” they had against protestors including taking away their “licence for life” and their “car indefinitely.”
For three years, neither Ford nor Trudeau had an issue with left-wing protestors burning down churches or destroying statues. But because Ford and Trudeau dislike criticism of their failed COVID-19 policies, they have unleashed unprecedented government powers on those Canadians dancing on the street in front of Parliament Hill.
The Ford and Trudeau governments have been working in lockstep for the last three years on most policy files, whether COVID-19 related or otherwise. Sadly, it is the failed COVID-19 policies of the Ford and Trudeau governments that have pushed millions of Canadians so far that they feel their only other option is to protest.
Doug Ford’s policies and rhetoric have directly resulted in Ontarians losing their jobs, educations, and other fundamental aspects of their daily lives.
It didn’t have to be this way.
The solution to our current untenable position is not more mandates, repeated lockdowns, and more punishment for those disagreeing with “one-size fits all” government “solutions.”
The right way forward includes the Ontario government focussing on expanding early treatment of COVID-19 and making such treatments readily available across Ontario, while allowing people to get on with their lives without restrictions.
Belinda Karahalios
Member of Provincial Parliament, Cambridge, North Dumfries, North Brant
