Trudeau: We’ll All Defend the Rights of Canadians to Peaceful Protest, But These Blockades Are Illegal

TRANSCRIPT:

TRUDEAU: "Invoking the Emergencies Act is never the first thing a government should do, nor even the second. The Act is to be used sparingly and as a last resort. Right now the situation requires additional tools not held by any other federal, provincial or territorial law. Today, in these circumstances, it is now clear that responsible leadership requires us to do this. These measures must be and will be compliant with our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Indeed, the Emergencies Act was created in the late '80s to flow from and uphold the Charter. We will always defend the rights of Canadians to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression, but these blockades are illegal. And if you’re still participating, the time to go home is now. On a separate track from the Emergencies Act, I want to reassure people that the Canadian Border Services Agency is already turning back non-Canadians trying to enter Canada to participate in blockades. And of course, while we get the situation under control —"