Thread by @aballinga

NDP Leader @theJagmeetSingh says his party will support the gov't's use of the Emergencies Act to address the #freedomconvoy situation. He says he wants these powers to be used to lift the "siege" in Ottawa and ensure the borders "are not locked down ever again."

Singh also says he wants the special powers to be used to help Canada's strained health care systems, which he says are in a state of emergency.

And Singh says he's open to supporting having the military go out and protect critical infrastructure like border crossings.
"I don't want to see a trampling of human rights, I don't want to see violence, but I certainly want to see people safe" and not lose their jobs, he says

"There is a gravity of this decision, and I don't take that lightly," Singh says. He blames Trudeau for a "failure" of leadership, which makes the Emergencies Act necessary at this point.

He cites the "devastating impacts" if companies decide not to invest in Canada if they're spooked by how easy it is for a "mob" to shut down the border.

"At this point, we need to act," Singh says. "We'll continue to provide scrutiny and we'll raise concerns if there's any sort of inappropriate use of these measures."

Asked by @AshleyBurkeCBC about how the NDP opposed the use of the War Measures Act (famously during the 1970 October Crisis), Singh says human rights concerns of that law addressed when it was replaced in 1988 with the Emergencies Act.

@AshleyBurkeCBC "This is an emergency, and so the use of the tools of the Emergencies Act" to protect people, keep borders open and support health care is something the NDP can support, he says.

Singh says the Liberal government did not consult the NDP about the use of the Emergencies Act.

Singh says Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Police Chief Peter Sloly have failed completely in addressing the crisis in the city. Accuses them of "abandoning the population" of the capital.