In January, a Canadian court ruled in favour of citizens who participated in the 2022 Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, determining that Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act was unconstitutional and without legal justification.
The Emergencies Act was invoked on February 14, 2022 by the Federal Cabinet in an effort to shut down the peaceful protests happening in opposition to Covid-related mandates and restrictions. Prime Minister Trudeau had refused to meet with Convoy representatives and the Emergencies Act had never been used before in Canadian history — intended for dire situations of war or terrorism, it gives the government the power to override citizens’ constitutional rights.
As a result of this decision, hundreds of Canadians had their bank accounts frozen (among other egregious acts), including Vincent Gircys, a retired member of the Ontario Provincial Police.
I spoke with Vincent about his experience at the Convoy in Ottawa, the police and government response, and Justice Mosley’s decision in response to the constitutional challenge brought forward by four plaintiffs, represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
The Canadian government is finally being held to account for its unconstitutional response to Covid