Trudeau revokes emergencies act powers but the case for crypto grows
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau has announced he will repeal emergency powers used to freeze $8 million from 210 bank accounts connected to Canadian ‘Freedom Convoy’ protestors, according to CBC news.
On Feb. 24, Trudeau stated in a televised press conference that “we’re ready to confirm that the situation is no longer an emergency” and said that his special powers granted by the Emergencies Act would end. He added: “We are confident that existing laws and bylaws are now sufficient to keep people safe.”
Today, after careful consideration, we’re ending the use of the Emergencies Act. Existing laws and local law enforcement authorities can keep people safe, and we’ll continue being there to support provincial and local authorities to protect Canadians.
Freedom Convoy protesters had blockaded streets and demonstrated to end Covid mandates and restrictions for weeks in front of Ontario’s Parliament Hill since last month. The action to freeze accounts was taken under the Emergencies Act. On Feb. 23, the Trudeau government began unfreezing bank accounts.
Isabelle Jacques, assistant deputy minister of finance, told a committee of MPs: "The vast majority of accounts are in the process of being unfrozen, subject to any new information that the RCMP may have,” she said, referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
After being blocked from traditional crowdfunding platforms GoFundMe and GiveSendGo by the Canadian government, protesters turned to fundraising with Bitcoin on Tallycoin and raised 21 BTC valued at about $902,000 at the time the event ended on Feb. 15. The organizers of the event then moved the BTC to a new wallet with separate key holders.
I have been on the phone with Canadians all day.This is not a
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