Mr. Speaker,
We are just now emerging from a blockade and occupation of our nation’s capital and land borders that has gone on for far too long. For three long weeks, the actions of few have had a detrimental effect on the lives of many, negatively affecting international trade at the busiest international crossing in North America and keeping great distances between Canadians and their families. The wellbeing of citizens has been compromised; the economy has been slowed; and Canada’s public safety has been put at risk.
In this regard, I would like to begin by first thanking our frontline workers who have selflessly carried us throughout this pandemic over the last two years. These unsung heroes braved the already dangerous circumstances of their job and continued to serve during the three-week occupation of our nation’s capital taking hostage the residents and businesses of Ottawa centre.
I want to also highlight and thank our law enforcement agents that have been working hand in hand to put an end to these blockades, they came from across the country to help the Ottawa police,
BUT MR SPEAKER, it is not lost on me that the actions we have been forced to witness in the last three weeks are significantly troubling to many Canadians who have protested in the past for reasons which resonate with a broader base of Canadians.
Protests by Canadians for reasons including human rights, social justice and concerns over the dire state of the environment. Canadians, who have and continue to challenge the system to do better, have been met with far more force and violence than what we witnessed in the last 3 weeks. To put it perspective Mr. Speaker, I draw your attention to the following examples of recent peaceful protests which were handled with a strikingly different approach.
On September 16, 2021, housing advocates were arrested while raising awareness for displaced and unhoused people in Toronto’s downtown. Skyler Williams, an indigenous leader and spokesperson for the 1492 Land Back Lane protest, was also assaulted and pepper sprayed at a July 21 clearing of the Lamport Stadium encampment. Williams was then arrested on September 16 for peacefully demanding that charges be dropped against protesters from the July 21 demonstrations requesting that three homeless encampments remain intact. Just last month, a group of BIPOC women were physically assaulted, arrested and treated like criminals while fighting for housing, Mr. Speaker! These women did not illegally occupy the national capital, Mr. Speaker.
They were not the recipients of foreign funding, Mr. Speaker. And they certainly were not treated similarly to Pat King, who has on multiple occasions taken to the internet to incite people to commit crimes and foment insurrection against our democratically elected government.
The peaceful protesters I cite were certainly never offered drinks, cigarettes, or any luxuries while being arrested. Rather, the peaceful protesters were physically assaulted being stomped on, dragged and humiliated. On a number of occasions, I have been asked by my 12-year-old son why a protest which states that its intent is to cripple the nation garners such a distinctly different reaction from authorities than protests which aim for positive social change.
The last two years have been incredibly difficult for all of us. 36,000 Canadians have lost their battle to COVID, Mr. Speaker. To the grieved families of those that we have lost, I send my sincerest condolences. Ontario, which is home to my riding of London West, is the province with the second highest death toll across the nation, Mr. Speaker. While I appreciate that no one enjoys the restrictions that we have been forced to take, I cannot begin to imagine how different our situation would be if we did not enact these protective measures in place to keep Canadians safe.
Mr. Speaker the members of the opposition are attempting to turn this into a political wedge to confuse Canadians and to distort the issue. Simply put, an effort to drive division across the country. Just this morning, I read a tweet about a single mother who donated $50 and had her bank account frozen. There was no verification of this story and the use of an already marginalized subsection of our population for the purpose of calling for the fall of a democratically elected government through unlawful tactics is outrageous and unacceptable.
These calls do not align with Canadian values! They only serve to jeopardize our economy, weaken our democracy, and diminish Canada’s international standing as a nation prime for investment and to carry on commercial business.
Situations such as that which have taken place over the past three weeks in Ottawa and across the country require action. We have been faced with challenges that require a unique approach. The invocation of the Emergencies Act was not taken lightly though it was necessary as we, as a nation, have been faced with a public order disturbance that led to the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge which affected about $390 million in trade each day, which equates to approximately thirty percent of all trade by road between Canada and the United States, our most important trading partner. In Coutts, Alberta, nearly $48 million in daily trade has been affected; in Emerson, Manitoba, close to $73 million in daily trade has been affected. This is a legitimate threat to our economy and to the livelihoods of Canadian workers. That is why the invocation of the Emergencies Act is appropriate and necessary in this climate in response to the ongoing situation as it serves to ensure a peaceful return to normalcy.
As leaders, we must be honest with ourselves and our constituents. It is important that we are conscious of the lasting impact of the situation we see before us. There has been a campaign of misinformation put forward by some Members in the House on the issue and we have to be careful of the facts we present to citizens. On this, it must be made abundantly clear that we cannot confuse conjecture or opinion with facts. As a point of clarification, it must be said, and then reiterated, that in no way invoking the Emergencies Act suspends civil liberties as stated by some of my colleagues across the aisle.
The Act specifies what constitutes a national emergency and lays out how serious the situation needs to be before the Act can be relied upon. It is necessary that the national emergency endangers the health and safety of Canadians or seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Canada. It is of paramount importance to note that when invoking the Emergencies Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter) continues to protect individual rights as the Government of Canada takes the necessary steps to safeguard the safety and well-being of. And as we all know, the situation in Ottawa and at our borders across the country has become unbearable for residents and has caused deep harm to Ottawa residents and businesses, and to our broader national economy.
With the implementation of the Emergencies Act, law enforcement agencies are provided with powers to regulate crowds, prohibit blockades and keep essential corridors open. This allows the government to mobilize essential services, such as tow trucks and the RCMP, to act with more experience to enforce local laws. The Act also provides enhanced power to stop the flow of funds that has been used to finance this disturbing demonstration. These measures are targeted, temporary and proportionate and will ensure the safety of Canadians, protect jobs, and help restore confidence in our institutions.
As reported by our law enforcement agencies, there has been financing from abroad funding the blockades which is why the Act broadens the scope of Canada’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules so that they include crowdfunding platforms and payment service providers, including those using digital assets such as cryptocurrencies. This will also authorize Canadian financial institutions to temporarily halt the provision of financial services where the institution suspects that an account is being used to further the goals of illegal activities such as the blockades and occupations. This is a necessary step in stopping the financing of these illegal blockades.
In a great democracy like ours, the government is conscious of the need for transparency and Parliamentary oversight as we undertake these actions. These specific measures are limited, and they are subject to numerous checks and safeguards through Parliament, and they must be compliant with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I will also be asking our government to include an independent public body to review how the parliamentarians will conduct this review on the Emergency Act.
Although our constitution fully recognizes the right to peacefully protest, the scenes we have seen in these last three weeks have been a far cry from peaceful. Occupying streets and restricting movement of people and goods, the shunning of laws, and the paralyzing of major trade corridors is not a peaceful protest, rather it is an illegal hijacking. The message that these demonstrations have made has been heard but it is now time to return home.