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Associated Press

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday he is removing emergency powers police can use after authorities ended the border blockades by those opposed to Covid-19 restrictions as well as the occupation of downtown Ottawa.
Trudeau invoked the powers last week and lawmakers affirmed the powers late Monday. Trudeau said then the powers were still needed but noted they would not stay in place a day longer than necessary.
“The situation is no longer an emergency, therefore the federal government will be ending the use of the emergencies act,” Trudeau said. “We are confident that existing laws and by-laws are sufficient to keep people safe.”
The emergencies act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers’ personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles.


The trucker protest grew until it closed a handful of Canada-US border posts and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet.
“We were very clear that the use of the emergencies act would be limited in time,” Trudeau said. “We said we would lift it as soon as possible.”
Trudeau had warned earlier this week there were some truckers just outside Ottawa who might be planning further blockades or occupations. His public safety minister also said there was an attempt to block a border crossing in British Columbia over the weekend.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said those who had their bank accounts frozen were “influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area”.
Canadian police in riot gear clear protesters, but warn efforts ‘not over’
The protests, which were first aimed at a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers but also encompassed fury over the range of Covid-19 restrictions and hatred of Trudeau, reflected the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger.
The self-styled Freedom Convoy shook Canada’s reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted trade, causing economic damage on both sides of the border. Hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament, a display that was part protest and part carnival.
For almost a week the busiest US-Canada border crossing, the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, was blocked. The crossing sees more than 25 per cent of the trade between the two countries.
Authorities moved to reopen the border posts, but police in Ottawa did little but issue warnings until Friday, even as hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters clogged the streets of the city and besieged Parliament Hill.

On Friday, authorities launched the largest police operation in Canadian history, arresting a string of Ottawa protesters and increasing that pressure on Saturday until the streets in front of Parliament were clear.
Eventually, police arrested at least 191 people and towed away 79 vehicles. Many protesters retreated as the pressure increased.
A small convoy of truckers demanding an end to coronavirus mandates began a cross-country drive from California to the US capital on Wednesday.
Several hundred people rallied in a car park in the cold, windswept Mojave Desert town of Adelanto before about two dozen trucks and a number of other vehicles hit the road. It was not clear how many intended to go all the way.


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Canada

Justin Trudeau revokes emergency powers after quelling Canada blockades

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a press conference on Tuesday. Photo: Canadian Press via dpa

Police officers are seen in Ottawa on Tuesday after protesters were cleared out over the weekend. Photo: Bloomberg

Inspired by Canada truckers, US convoy heads for Washington in pandemic protest

Supporters listen on Wednesday to organisers talk about the upcoming trucker caravan to Washington. Photo: AP

“People’s Convoy” trucks drive towards Washington to demand the lifting of US pandemic restrictions on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

“People’s Convoy” supporters wave flags and cheer from a bridge as the trucks pass near Barstow, California, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ottawa police chief ousted, as Canada’s protesting truckers vow to dig in

A truck driver listens to his vehicle’s engine during a protest over pandemic health rules outside the parliament of Canada in Ottawa on Monday. Photo: AFP

Vehicles and demonstrators continue to clog the streets of downtown Ottawa on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has invoked the Emergencies Act to bring to an end anti-government blockades during a press conference on Monday. Photo: dpa

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Dragon dancers take part in a Lunar New Year celebration in Vancouver, Canada, in this file photo. Canada’s Chinese communities have been targeted for espionage by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, according to a recent court ruling.  Photo: Xinhua

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The emergencies act had allowed police to freeze truckers’ bank accounts and make towing companies haul away ‘Freedom Convoy’ vehicles
The occupation of downtown Ottawa was cleared last week after over 190 arrests were made in the largest police operation in Canadian history



The emergencies act had allowed police to freeze truckers’ bank accounts and make tow truck companies haul away ‘Freedom Convoy’ vehicles.


Justin Trudeau

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