This afternoon, only days after arresting truckers fighting for freedom and towing their trucks from the streets in Ottawa where they peacefully protested for freedom, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the government would end its use of the Emergencies Act.

‘We were very clear that the use of the Emergencies Act would be limited in time. When we invoked it, it would be in place for up to thirty days, but we said that we would lift it as soon as possible,” the prime minister said.

“We’ve held updates and briefs with ministers and officials every day… And today, after careful consideration, we’re ready to confirm that the situation is no longer an emergency,” he said. “The federal government will be ending the use of the Emergencies Act.” Trudeau said that while the emergency was over, the situation would not “just go away,” adding that there was more work to do to “defend democracy.” We’re fighting a virus, not each other. After two difficult, painful years, we have a lot of healing to do,” he said.

https://twitter.com/Robertopedia/status/1496594741277990918?s=20&t=w9I89-zDXchdfwU5e3TCfw

Trudeau’s declaration of the Emergencies Act vote was confirmed on Monday night. The vote was 185 in favor to 151 against, with Liberals and NDP voting in favor, while the Conservatives and Bloc voted against. The two Green Party votes were split.

The Act had never been used since Parliament passed it in 1988. It was the source of considerable controversy and criticism after the government decided to invoke the Act on Monday, Feb. 14.   Some felt that it constituted government overreach, and the protests were not a legitimate national emergency.

The Act still needed to pass in the Senate. Interestingly, Trudeau’s announcement came as Senators began to speak out on it.

Anthony Furey tweeted: “Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act right as Senators began to speak out on it and as an urgent application for judicial review made its way to federal court today.”

Trudeau has revoked the Emergencies Act right as Senators began to speak out on it and as an urgent application for judicial review made its way to federal court today.

— Anthony Furey (@anthonyfurey) February 23, 2022

Sen. Pierre Dalphond, a Trudeau appointee and former judge, has just announced he will be voting against the Emergencies Act because he believes it violates sec.8 of the Charter, “the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.”

Dalphond says his “no” vote is “out of concern about the lack of judicial oversight in the freezing of assets.”

— Anthony Furey (@anthonyfurey) February 23, 2022

With the mandates being dropped around Canada during the protests, it’s a shame Trudeau didn’t take the opportunity to drop the mandates as easily as he dropped the Emergencies Act.