Bringing children to the antigovernment blockades that have immobilized downtown Ottawa and shuttered border crossings is among the activities that could net protesters a $5,000 fine or five years in prison while Canada is under the national Emergencies Act.
The same punishment would apply to anyone participating in the protests directly, or bringing aid such a food or fuel to those involved. Read more: Trudeau says Emergencies Act won’t override fundamental rights — but experts aren’t so sure The temporary but extraordinary powers flow through the national Emergencies Act, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked on Monday for the first time in Canadian history.
Attorney General David Lametti said Tuesday the decision to use the act was not taken lightly. “Nobody wants to be the attorney general that has to invoke the Emergencies Act,” Lametti said in an interview Tuesday morning. “But I have a responsibility to Canadians to do this.
I have a responsibility to the rule of law and to good government. We can’t allow our democratic system to be hijacked by shows of force.