Northern View: Local pundit challenges use of the Emergencies Act

Over 200 bombings had taken place in Quebec, nine people had died, the British Trade Commissioner was kidnapped, and a Quebec Provincial Cabinet Minister was murdered.

These were serious crimes and public safety was clearly at risk, meaning it truly was a national security emergency.

On the other hand, the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa absolutely did not justify using the Emergencies Act.

If some of the protesters were harassing, intimidating or assaulting law-abiding citizens in Ottawa, or shutting down the economy, they should have been arrested and their trucks removed.

These are police issues and have nothing to do with any of the criteria in the Emergencies Act that justify its use.

Bombs were not exploding and citizens were not being kidnapped or murdered.

Then the federal government froze and examined personal bank accounts, many here in northern B.C., of those who had donated money to the protesters,

This was an extreme abuse of power and severe violation of citizens’ constitutional right to privacy.

We may not all have agreed with the views of the protesters, but their right to peacefully express their dissent is a key component of our democracy.

Indeed, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have declared that the “government’s use of the Emergencies Act to limit freedom of peaceful assembly and intrude into the privacy of individuals across the country was “unnecessary, unjustifiable and unconstitutional.”

So I’m hoping Canadians citizens are paying attention and do not forget about this dangerous precedent that could pave the way for future governments to use such extreme power so unnecessarily.

My name is Chris Beach & you’ve just heard the Northern View.

Editors note: The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of Pattison Media.

by Chris Beach

Northern View: Local pundit challenges use of the Emergencies Act

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