Court overturns Trudeau’s use of emergency powers against Freedom Convoy protests
A Canadian appeals court has ruled that former prime minister Justin Trudeau wrongly used emergency powers to end the 2022 'Freedom Convoy' protests. The decision overturned the government’s justification for freezing bank accounts and clearing blockades in Ottawa. Trudeau had defended the move as necessary to protect public safety.
The ruling follows years of legal challenges from civil liberties groups. They argued that the Emergencies Act was invoked without proper grounds. The court called the decision 'unreasonable' and found no evidence of a national emergency.
In January 2022, truckers protesting Covid-19 restrictions blocked roads in downtown Ottawa. Residents faced weeks of disruption, and tensions grew over threats of violence. Trudeau responded by invoking the Emergencies Act, a first in Canadian history. The law allowed authorities to freeze protesters’ bank accounts and forcefully dismantle the convoy.
Trudeau described the act as a 'measure of last resort' to restore order. But civil liberties groups, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, immediately challenged the decision. A later public inquiry supported Trudeau’s actions, citing an out-of-control situation. However, the Federal Court of Appeal disagreed, ruling that his cabinet lacked reasonable grounds to declare a national emergency. The court’s decision does not end the legal battle. The federal government can still appeal to the Supreme Court. No organisation has yet been named to represent the government in that process.
The ruling leaves the government’s use of emergency powers in doubt. It also raises questions about future responses to large-scale protests. For now, the decision stands as a legal setback for Trudeau’s handling of the convoy crisis.
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