By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 5:23pmET
Police move against convoy supporters near Parliament Hill; House of Commons cancels Friday sitting to debate Emergencies Act
Today's 16.5-hour House of Commons sitting to continue consideration of the Emergencies Act has been cancelled on the advice of parliamentary security because of "exceptional circumstances" and police operations in downtown Ottawa, according to Speaker Anthony Rota.
The postponement came as police restricted access to downtown Ottawa, which has been gridlocked by "Freedom Convoy" occupiers for nearly three weeks. Dozens had been arrested by mid-afternoon --- including a number of key convoy organizers -- as police move against the occupation zone in a major show of force.
Ottawa police also reported officers assaulted by protesters and attempts to remove officers' weapons.
House leadership of all parties agreed to the cancellation, with a plan to resume debate on Saturday and vote "early next week" on the motion to confirm the federal declaration of a public order emergency, Government House Leader Mark Holland said in a statement.
The initial debate schedule called for MPs to sit between 7am and midnight ET on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Monday, the House would again return at 7am ET, with debate wrapping up at 7:30pm ET followed by a vote.
The Senate sitting scheduled for today has also been postponed; the upper chamber was expected to formally receive the government's emergency motion.
“Parliament will not be deterred from its work—We will not be placed in any position that will see the nation’s business not being dealt with,” vows govt House leader Mark Holland as he discusses plan for resumption of House business following today’s cancelled sitting.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/SbUEHpfvNk
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 18, 2022
Watch: Ottawa police update
Watch: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal ministers hold news conference
Watch: Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to reporters
Watch: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on the Emergencies Act
Watch: Federal officials discuss new COVID-19 projections
Emergencies Act Debate: Day One
Debate began yesterday with a speech from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who again defended the decision to use the Emergencies Act for the first time in its 34-year history -- the first emergency measures since the 1970 October Crisis and the previous War Measures Act.
Trudeau described the declaration of a public order emergency as a proportional, measured, and responsible response to the blockades and occupation of Ottawa.
“I ask all members of this House to stand up for families and workers, to stand up for jobs and our economy, and to stand up for the freedom of Canadians and for public safety,” says PM Trudeau, speaking in debate on motion to confirm government’s emergency declaration.#cdnpoli https://t.co/PCC4t9O283
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 17, 2022
Opposition Leader Candice Bergen followed with another critique of the federal response to blockades and of the Emergencies Act, imploring MPs to "proceed with extreme caution."
“Now is the time to stand up for your constituents, to show real leadership, to help heal our divisions, to listen to those we disagree with, to not shut them down, to not tell them that they are irrelevant, to not speak insults to them,” says Candice Bergen in House.#cdnpoli https://t.co/sFYCZhcjFa
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 17, 2022
Trudeau, Bergen, and other MPs were speaking to this motion:
That, pursuant to section 58 of the Emergencies Act, this House confirm the declaration of a public order emergency proclaimed on February 14, 2022.
The Emergencies Act requires the government to table such a motion before both houses of Parliament within seven sitting days of the declaration.
Emergencies Act: Read the official declaration
The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois signalled they will oppose the motion, though NDP support would give the Liberal minority government enough votes to secure its passage.
« La liberté est une question d’équilibre. Équilibre entre la liberté individuelle et la liberté collective. Le jugement à cet égard demande... du jugement », affirme le chef du Bloc YF Blanchet. en signifiant que le PM Trudeau a échoué son test de leadership.#polcan pic.twitter.com/n24T2GEkF8
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 17, 2022
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party would withdraw that support if federal powers are being misused, telling the House that Canada reached this point through a failure of political and police leadership.
"We are not proud of supporting these measures," Singh said in response to a question.
“This is my hope: That our decisions in the coming days are guided by this desire to build a better and safer, more just world where all of our children believe that they belong,” says NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in debate on govt's motion to confirm emergency declaration.#cdnpoli https://t.co/wegGfgNyO9
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) February 17, 2022
The declaration is automatically voided if either the House of Commons or Senate votes down the motion. Otherwise, the declaration automatically expires after 30 days unless continued or revoked.
Twenty MPs or 10 senators can also trigger a motion to revoke the emergency declaration. Voting would take place after no more than 10 hours of debate.
The Emergencies Act also requires a special parliamentary committee of MPs and senators to take an oath of secrecy, provide oversight, and eventually produce a report to Parliament.
And, the Act requires the government to provide Parliament with information its consultation with the provinces and territories.
Read the government's consultation report and the letter sent to premiers on the Emergencies Act:
Cabinet's formal order-in-council justified the emergency declaration because of:
(i) the continuing blockades by both persons and motor vehicles that is occurring at various locations throughout Canada and the continuing threats to oppose measures to remove the blockades, including by force, which blockades are being carried on in conjunction with activities that are directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property, including critical infrastructure, for the purpose of achieving a political or ideological objective within Canada,
(ii) the adverse effects on the Canadian economy — recovering from the impact of the pandemic known as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — and threats to its economic security resulting from the impacts of blockades of critical infrastructure, including trade corridors and international border crossings,
(iii) the adverse effects resulting from the impacts of the blockades on Canada’s relationship with its trading partners, including the United States, that are detrimental to the interests of Canada,
(iv) the breakdown in the distribution chain and availability of essential goods, services and resources caused by the existing blockades and the risk that this breakdown will continue as blockades continue and increase in number, and
(v) the potential for an increase in the level of unrest and violence that would further threaten the safety and security of Canadians.
The provisions include:
- Broadening the scope of money laundering and terrorist funding rules to target crowdfunding platforms and payment providers, which must register with FINTRAC and report large and suspicious transactions;
- Authorizing Canadian financial institutions to cease, without a court order, service to accounts suspected of furthering illegal blockades and occupations;
- Allowing for the suspension of bank accounts and vehicle insurance of companies with trucks taking part in blockades;
- Allowing the RCMP to enforce provincial law and municipal by-laws as needed
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Joanna Smith
The Prime Minister says invoking the Emergencies Act is a “last resort”, as a civil liberties group announces a legal challenge; Police begin making arrests in downtown Ottawa; And Chrystia Freeland says financial service providers have already frozen accounts of some people associated with the blockades.
Here's your morning update with Mark Sutcliffe:
