Canada’s emergency law invoked over fear of ‘serious violence’ for political, ideological gain

While the order does not use the word 'terrorism,' the rationale provided uses similar language to that included in the definition of terrorism in Canada.

Concerns about “serious violence” for political and ideological gain are among the reasons cited by the federal government for invoking Canada’s Emergencies Act over the so-called “Freedom Convoy.”

An executive order issued on Tuesday formalized the decision, which comes as the convoy blockade of the nation’s capital enters its nineteenth day with no clear end in sight.

“This is not a peaceful protest,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

The order-in-council lays out exactly why the government views the convoy as a threat to national security, which is a key requirement in triggering the Emergencies Act.

The executive order describes the reasons for declaring an emergency, the first of those being:

“The continuing blockades by both persons and motor vehicles that is occurring at various locations throughout Canada and the continuing threats to oppose measures to remove the blockades, including by force, which blockades are being carried on in conjunction with activities that are directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property, including critical infrastructure, for the purpose of achieving a political or ideological objective within Canada.”

Put in plain language, that means the government says that there is an emergency because of the blockades, and because of the vows by those involved to push back at efforts to clear them, which officials believe involved plans to use “serious violence” for “a political or ideological objective.”

While the order does not use the word “terrorism,” the rationale provided uses language similar to that included in the definition of terrorism in Canada.