Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Ruling Against Use of Emergencies Act After Government’s Request
The Supreme Court of Canada has announced that it will hear the federal government’s appeal of rulings against its use of the Emergencies Act, invoked in 2022 in response to the Freedom Convoy protests. The federal government filed an application for leave to appeal on March 17, arguing that the lower courts erred in their assessment of its decision to invoke the emergency powers. The government invoked the Emergencies Act in February 2022, saying the protests—which began in response to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions—involved threats to national security. The invocation of the act gave law enforcement additional powers to arrest demonstrators, order banks to freeze the accounts of some protesters, and compel towing companies to remove protesters’ vehicles from Ottawa. The act also made it illegal to attend any event deemed an unlawful assembly, such as the protest in downtown Ottawa. The act was revoked on Feb. 23, 2022.
TL;DR
- The Supreme Court of Canada will hear the federal government's appeal on rulings against its use of the Emergencies Act.
- The Emergencies Act was invoked in 2022 in response to the Freedom Convoy protests.
- The federal government argues lower courts erred in their assessment of the decision to invoke emergency powers.
- The act granted law enforcement additional powers, including arrests, freezing accounts, and towing vehicles.
- It also made attending unlawful assemblies illegal.
- The Emergencies Act was revoked on February 23, 2022.