Thread by @pdmcleod

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau just started his press conference where he is expected to envoke the Emergencies Act.

“This is not a peaceful protest,” he says.

Trudeau says he has envoked the Emergencies Act for the first time ever, in order to give law enforcement more power.

Trudeau says the measures will be time limited, geographically targeted, reasonable and proportionate.

New law enforcement powers include expanded authority to impose fines or imprisonment.

The government will designate border crossings and airports as critical infrastructure.

Other tools include prohibiting using goods or funds to support the protests.

Trudeau says he is not limiting freedom of speech or the right to protest. Also, no troops: “We’re not using the Emergencies Act to call in the military."

Trudeau says that people still have the right to peacefully protest and assemble, but the protests have gone beyond that.

“The Act is to be used sparingly and as a last resort. Right now, the situation requires additional tools not held by any other… law."

“These blockades are illegal. And if you’re participating, the time to go home is now.”

Trudeau says border agents are turning away Americans trying to come up and take part in blockades.

“I know people are frustrated. I hear it. You have the right to voice your frustration, even your anger at governbment policies… but blocking streets and critical infrastructure, and depriving your neighbors of their freedom, is a totally different matter. It’s time to stop."

Of course hanging over all this is that Trudeau’s father, former PM Pierre Elliott Trudeau used the War Measures Act, a precurser to the current law, and called in the army during the October Crisis of 1970.

Whoa, the government is extending terrorist funding laws to crowdfunding campaigns.

As of today, crowdfunding companies must register with Fintrac (the government body that monitors the flow of money to monitor criminal financing) and report suspicious payments.

Banks are being empowered to freeze funds they believe is flowing to trucker blockades. They will be freed of civil liability for such freezes.

If your truck is used in blockades your corporate accounts will be frozen and your vehicle insurance will be suspended, says deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Attorney General David Lametti stresses the measures are temporary. Says the state of emergency will last for 30 days unless renewed, but he hopes the declaration will be revoked much sooner.

There are six actions being taken today under the Emergencies Act. They are:

1) Prohibiting public assemblies that breach the peace. Ottawa is specifically cited.

2) Designating and securing certain places where blockades are prohibited (like ports, border crossings, Ottawa)

3) Directing persons to render essential services to relieve impacts of blockades (in effect, tow trucks). They will be compensated.

4) Financial measures to regulate and prohibit the use of property to fund or support blockades

5) Measures enabling the RCMP to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial offenses

6) Imposition of fines or imprisonment for contravention of orders issued under the Emergencies Act