News

Trudeau Freezes Canadian Truckers’ Bank Accounts, Truckers Say ‘We Will Hold The Line’

capitolhilltim

In a desperate attempt to hold onto power over average Canadians, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland stated that the Trudeau administration would be “following the money,” and “stopping financing of illegal blockades.”

This will be done by freezing truckers who participated in peaceful protests in Canada against vaccine mandates and masks. Also, it was announced that truckers will lose their vehicle insurance which is carried on tractor trailers.

RELATED: Biden Says It’s ‘Probably Premature’ To Get Rid Of COVID Mask Mandates

Goverment crackdown on Freedom Convoy

The protest started by Canadian truckers who were unhappy with a US-Canada rule which required them to be immunized if crossing the border. They also had to face a 14-day quarantine when they returned home. This has become a conflict between Trudeau and the ordinary Canadian citizen tired of the COVID restrictions.

Trudeau, for the first-time since 1988, invoked also the Emergencies Act on Monday. The wording of the Act states that it may only be used in “urgent and critical situations,” that “seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians.”

During Monday’s press conference, Trudeau stated that the reason for the crackdown on the trucker’s protest “is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs.”

The complete press conference can be listened to here

He added that law enforcement would be given “more tools” to not only jail and fine protesters, and that legislation, which is required for implementation of the Emergencies Act would be “applied temporarily,” and “in a highly specific manner.”

RELATED: CNN Panel Got Upset That Dr. Dre And Snoop Dog Didn’t Get Political Enough During Super Bowl Halftime Show

What is The Emergencies Act?

The Emergencies Act grants Trudeau the power for 30 days to ban travel and public assemblies, as well as certain property, from being used. It is likely being invoked under the ‘public order’ category, one of four categories of emergencies that can be used.

The law is available in four scenarios, none of them involving the same level as the present. Or, the Emergencies Act will be revoked if it’s not signed by all four Premiers in each affected province. One problem is that lawful protests cannot be invoked by the Act. 

Reactions to the Act’s invocation were mixed. Ontario Premier Doug Ford supported the move, however, Quebec Premier Francois Legault said he believed it may “throw oil on the fire.”

RELATED: Biden’s Afghanistan Debacle Looks Worse And Worse

Tale Of Two Countries

Freeland also stated that the Trudeau government would broaden Canada’s “Terrorist Financing Laws” to include any cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding websites.

This latest round of tough measures against truckers contrasts sharply with the position Justin Trudeau took last year, when he supported Indian farmers who blockaded highways to New Delhi’s capital for one year as a protest.

At the time, Trudeau stated that, “Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest.” As of last week, the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island all plan to eliminate some or all COVID restrictions. 

As of the weekend last weekend, however, the Ambassador bridge linking Detroit to Windsor Ontario which had been closed by protesters has been opened. However, truckers insist that they will not be moving. 

Protest leader Tamara Lich said to the Associated Press that they are not intimidated by Trudeau’s threats. “There are no threats that will frighten us. We will hold the line.”