Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Emergencies Act no longer needed: Trudeau

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Feb, 2022 03:44 PM
  • Emergencies Act no longer needed: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and at Canada's border crossings has calmed down.

 "We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," Trudeau told a news conference Wednesday in Ottawa.

 "I want to reassure Canadians: law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with anyone engaging in unlawful or dangerous activities."

 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 protests against COVID-19 restrictions that had occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks and 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 said Wednesday the threat remains, but order has been restored.

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.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had warned that his party would pull its support for the Emergencies Act as soon as it decided the measures are no longer necessary.

The Senate began debating a motion on the act Tuesday, but adjourned the discussion Wednesday after the prime minister's announcement. 

Justice Minister David Lametti said the emergency powers, which were set to expire mid-March at the latest, will officially end when the Governor General signs a proclamation to revoke the act.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act
A post on the City of Kamloops Facebook page says Jane Deelstra received a certificate from Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky on Tuesday, recognizing her "great bravery and perseverance."

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament
Downtown Ottawa Coun. Catherine McKenney has floated the idea of working with federal officials and the community to close Wellington Street, which runs directly along Parliament Hill, to all vehicles except public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.    

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured
Surrey RCMP say they responded to reports of a stabbing on the school grounds Tuesday afternoon. They say in a news release that teenagers were found with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to hospital.

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured

Tories end boycott of national security committee

Tories end boycott of national security committee
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen announced the reversal on Tuesday, saying she was writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to have Tory MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Rob Morrison appointed to the committee.

Tories end boycott of national security committee

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax
Canada's proposal, which includes a three per cent tax worth $3.4 billion in revenue over five years, would only take effect in 2024 if those efforts don't come to pass.

US fires shot across Canada's bow over digital tax

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days
There are 688 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 108 are in intensive care. In the past 96 hours, 44 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,830.    

2,103 COVID19 cases over 4 days