OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and Canada’s border crossings has calmed down.
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, for the first time last week, saying police needed extra help to end blockades that had been ongoing in downtown Ottawa for weeks and had spread to key Canada-U.S. border crossings.
On Monday, Trudeau said the time-limited, extraordinary powers granted by the Emergencies Act were still needed because his government was worried about blockades returning.
Trudeau now says that order has now been restored and that while threats remain, police and existing legislation will be enough to prevent other occupations.
The House of Commons passed a motion to approve the measures under the act Monday evening, with the NDP voting in favour alongside the minority Liberal government.
The Senate began debating a motion on the act Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.
Laura Osman
The Canadian Press
