Trucker convoy: What options do police have amid ‘illegal,’ ‘unlawful’ conduct?
Global News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the first officials to shimmy up to the shift, telling Canadians on Wednesday afternoon that the demonstration is 'becoming illegal.'
Listen carefully, and beneath the blaring horns of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” downtown Ottawa, you hear it — shifting language that the protest is becoming “unlawful.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the first officials to shimmy up to the shift, telling Canadians watching question period on Wednesday afternoon that the demonstration is “becoming illegal.”
Diane Deans, currently running for the mayorship of Ottawa and chair of the city’s police services board, described the people still blockading and roaming the streets as “mercenaries that are unlawfully protesting and occupying our communities.”
Chief Peter Sloly of the Ottawa Police Service also referenced “unlawful” activities by some. Municipal councillors have repeatedly described the protest as an “occupation” and “siege” of the city.
Protesting in Canada is a constitutional right. But there is a caveat: the protest in question must be a “peaceful assembly” in order to be legal.
That legal protection, according to the Department of Justice website, “does not protect riots and gatherings that seriously disturb the peace.”
The Criminal Code specifically defines an unlawful assembly as:
An unlawful assembly is an assembly of three or more persons who, with intent to carry out any common purpose, assemble in such a manner or so conduct themselves when they are assembled as to cause persons in the neighbourhood of the assembly to fear, on reasonable grounds, that they
Toronto Police say five people have been injured and four of them have been arrested after a crash in Scarborough involving a stolen vehicle.
Parents in the Halifax area are voicing concerns as children have been finding drug paraphernalia in their neighbourhoods. In one case, a child was pricked by a discarded needle.
Voters in Nova Scotia are heading to the polls today as the province holds an election to determine if Tim Houston and the Progressive Conservatives will remain in power.
On Monday, Trump vowed to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming from Canada and Mexico on his first day back in office.
'A cherished member of the theatre community, his presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions — and big hugs — will be deeply missed'
An Ontario man was restrained with duct tape last week after allegedly trying to open the door of a plane mid-flight, called himself the “captain" and injuring a flight attendant.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday called on provinces to 'step up' and get on board with the Liberals' plan to grant a tax holiday on some items for two months.
As authorities investigate the deaths of six tourists in Laos, here's what Canadians need to know about recognizing and preventing methanol poisoning while travelling.
Danielle Smith said the Alberta government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S.
'She thinks she's playing Robin Hood, and in actuality, she's putting these fishermen in a worse-off situation than they currently are,' one licence-holder said.
The Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie in Ontario say they expect to turn away 650 women and children this year for service. It's a problem seen across Canada.