Federal Court to hear further arguments against government’s use of Emergencies Act

OTTAWA –

The Federal Court is slated to hear more concerns today about the Liberal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to quell “Freedom Convoy” protests early last year.

Counsel for the Canadian Constitution Foundation and other parties are expected to appear in Ottawa before Justice Richard Mosley on the second day of the three-day hearing.

On Monday, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said the government did not clearly spell out proper legal justification for its use of the emergency measures last February.

The government contends the extraordinary steps taken to deal with the emergency situation were targeted, proportional, time limited and compliant with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Public Order Emergency Commission, a mandatory inquiry held last fall, found the government met the very high threshold for using the law.

Now the legal arguments for and against the decision are being heard in a court of law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2023