28 / Canadian Government Executive // Spring 2023 THE LAST WORD On a frigid Friday afternoon, Justice Paul Rouleau released his report into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act in February of last year. The legislation was passed in 1988 but this was the first time that it was ever put into action. The federal government invoked the legislation after the “Freedom Convoy” had occupied the capital city for weeks, disrupting commerce, traffic, and the daily life and safety of Ottawa citizens. There were also parallel activities in other cities across the country, including in Coutts, Alberta where, as the report explains, the situation “was notable for its duration, complexity, and volatility.” Justice Rouleau found that the federal government met the threshold for the legitimate use of the Emergencies Act. Politically, this is helpful for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (more on this later) and, from a governance perspective, the Commission’s work fulfills the legislative requirement for transparency and accountability when emergency measures are taken. However, the true heft and significance of the report is in the light it sheds on the following issues: the factors that led to the occupation in the first place, including the rise of populism in Canada; the breakdown of communication between governments during an emergency; and, the difficulties in coordinating policing operations during the occupation. This report should not collect dust on a shelf but, instead, should guide discussions and decisions on how to prevent a repeat of history and, if necessary, how to respond to an emergency like this one. Justice Rouleau’s report explains how the “Freedom Convoy” got started. It was not simply or uniquely a response to the application of the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. Instead, the seeds were planted even before the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people became increasingly disenchanted with government institutions THE EMERGENCIES ACT BY LORI TURNBULL However, the true heft and significance of the report is in the light it sheds on the following issues: the factors that led to the occupation in the first place, including the rise of populism in Canada; the breakdown of communication between governments during an emergency; and, the difficulties in coordinating policing operations during the occupation.
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