Justin Trudeau Says He Still Needs Emergency Powers Despite a Lack of Actual Protest

Even though police violently removed the Freedom Convoy protesters from Ottawa and no active protests are currently taking place, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted at a news conference on Monday that his government still requires the unprecedented emergency powers he demanded earlier this month.

QUICK FACTS:
  • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is insisting that he keep his newfound powers given to him through the Emergencies act.
  • According to Reuters, the government is claiming that they need to retain the powers due to “real concerns” about potential future threats.
  • Currently, there are no protests like the ones that prompted the prime minister to invoke the emergency order, according to Breitbart News.
  • Trudeau made his comments at a televised news conference Monday, citing the possibility that the Freedom Convoy truckers could regroup and come back, Reuters reported.
  • Near the end of the convoy’s presence around Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Journalists were arrested by Ottawa police, according to Reclaim the Net.
TRUDEAU’S COMMENTS:
  • “This state of emergency is not over. There continue to be real concerns about the coming days,” Trudeau said on Monday.
  • “People [are] out there indicating that they are ready to blockade, to continue their illegal occupations to disrupt Canadians’ lives. We feel that this measure needs to remain in place,” he added.
  • “Invoking the Emergencies Act has been necessary. Law enforcement agencies relied on it to set up secured areas in downtown Ottawa and at border crossings. It prevented foreign money from continuing to fund illegal blockades, and it’s making sure our borders remain open. It has been the responsible thing to do.”
BACKGROUND:
  • Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act a week ago on Monday and granted authorities the power to stop the protesters.
  • Demonstrators arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 22 and have gridlocked the area around the capital since that time.
  • Blockades were put into place at several of the Canada-U.S. border crossings and police spent two days clearing protesters making 191 arrests and towing 79 of the vehicles.

LATEST VIDEO