Canada: Trudeau vows to freeze bank accounts of truckers protesting COVID vaccine mandate

Canian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has anunced an unprecedented step to invoke Emergencies Act to clamp down truckers' protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Trudeau has said that response to anti-mandate protests in Cana would be “time-limited”, “reasonable and proportionate” and would t see deployment of military.

According to BBC, banks would be able to freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with protests even in absence of a court order. latest move by Canian government came as hundreds of demonstrators are still present in Ottawa. Earlier on Sunday, law enforcement mand to clear crucial US-Cana tre pathway, Ambassor Bridge in Windsor after demonstrators barred ro for a week.

In a news conference on Monday, Trudeau said, “This is about keeping Canians safe, protecting people's jobs”. Canian PM also said that police would be provided “more tools” to eir imprison or fine protesters to protect critical infrastructure. He also elaborated that legislation would be applied only temporarily and that too, in a highly specific manner. 

Bank accounts, vehicle insurance of protesters can be suspended

As per report, Cana’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at Monday’s news conference that apart from banks being able to freeze accounts of people linked to anti-mandate protests, vehicle insurance of any individual involved in demonstrations can also be suspended. Freeland said y were broening Cana’s “Terrorist Financing” in a bid to cover cryptocurrencies and or crowdfunding platforms.

She said, “It's all about following money”. It is to te that Emergencies Act, authorised in Cana, was passed back in 1988. legislation demands a high legal bar to be invoked, as per report. It can be used in an “urgent and critical situation” that “seriously endangers lives, health or safety of Canians”. 

But, lawful demonstrations do t qualify. Speaking also on Monday, Cana's Justice Minister David Lametti h argued se conditions h been met. Meanwhile, Ottawa protest leer Tamara Lich dismissed move by Trudeau’s government and told AP, “re are threats that will frighten us. We will hold line”.

(Im: AP)