Use of Emergencies Act to clear convoy protests unreasonable: Appeal Court

JIM BRONSKILL

OTTAWA — The Federal Court of Appeal has ruled it was unreasonable for the Liberal government to use the Emergencies Act four years ago to quell protests in the national capital and at key border points.

The decision issued Friday affirms a 2024 Federal Court ruling that rejected use of the emergencies law and found invocation of the act led to the infringement of constitutional rights.

The Federal Court of Appeal said the government lacked a basis to declare that the events across Canada posed a threat to national security or amounted to a national emergency — requirements that must be satisfied to invoke the Emergencies Act.

For about three weeks in January and February 2022, downtown Ottawa was filled with protesters, including many in large trucks that blocked streets around Parliament Hill.

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