Emergencies Act no longer needed: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government can revoke the Emergencies Act now that the crisis in Ottawa and at Canada's border crossings has calmed down.

I’m giving an update on the Emergencies Act – with Deputy Prime Minister @CAFreeland and Ministers @BillBlair, @DavidLametti, and @MarcoMendicino. Watch it live: https://t.co/gmCOA6jbmo

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 23, 2022

 "We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe," Trudeau told a news conference Wednesday in Ottawa.

 "I want to reassure Canadians: law enforcement agencies are prepared to deal with anyone engaging in unlawful or dangerous activities."

 Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, which replaced the War Measures Act in 1988, for the first time last week, saying police needed extra help to end protests against COVID-19 restrictions that had occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks and spread to key Canada-U.S. border crossings.

On Monday, Trudeau said the time-limited, extraordinary powers granted by the Emergencies Act were still needed because his government was worried about blockades returning.

Trudeau said Wednesday the threat remains, but order has been restored.

The House of Commons passed a motion to approve the measures under the act Monday evening, with the NDP voting in favour alongside the minority Liberal government.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had warned that his party would pull its support for the Emergencies Act as soon as it decided the measures are no longer necessary.

The Senate began debating a motion on the act Tuesday, but adjourned the discussion Wednesday after the prime minister's announcement. 

Justice Minister David Lametti said the emergency powers, which were set to expire mid-March at the latest, will officially end when the Governor General signs a proclamation to revoke the act.