Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada is revoking the Emergencies Act after 10 days of police crackdowns and frozen bank accounts.
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Trudeau said “Today, after careful consideration, we’re ready to confirm that the situation is no longer an emergency”.
“Therefore, the federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act,” he added.
“We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe,” he continued, noting “we will continue to be there to support provincial and local authorities if and when needed”.
Under the act, the government was able “to declare the areas around Parliament Hill a place of prohibited assembly and granted RCMP the ability to share information about supporters of the convoy with financial institutions in order to freeze accounts,” reported Global News.
The outlet also reported that approximately “200 people have been arrested and are facing nearly 400 charges”.
Police began using physical force last week as a way to force protesters out of the area they were occupying.
The Emergencies Act was invoked for the first time in Canadian history on Feb. 14, and if it was not revoked, it would have remained for 20 more days.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said “In alignment with the federal government, Ontario will be terminating its declaration of a state of emergency as of 5:00 p.m. today”.
