Dear Neighbours,
Throughout the past two weeks, our community has had to endure immense agony, exhaustion and frustration. There are no words that can accurately describe what our community has gone through. For residents of downtown Ottawa, this continues to be a horrific experience.
This has gone on too long. And as the Prime Minister said: occupying streets, harassing people and breaking the law is not a peaceful protest. Residents continue to have difficulty sleeping, and workers and businesses remain once again severely impacted.
It has been made clear that there are serious challenges to local enforcements’ ability to effectively enforce the law. That is why, the federal government has invoked the Emergencies Act to give police more tools to end occupations and blockades.
This means the scope of these measures will be time limited, geographically targeted, reasonable, and proportionate to the threats. The Act will be used to strengthen and support law enforcement agencies at all levels across Canada.
The Emergencies Act will: 1) give police more tools, 2) strengthen the police’s ability to fine and imprison, 3) designate, secure and protect critical places and infrastructure, 4) ensure essential services are rendered, 5) prohibit use of property to support illegal blockades, and 6) allow the RCMP to enforce municipal by-laws and provincial offences when required.
What we are NOT doing with this Act, is using it to call in the military, override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, limit freedom of speech or limit freedom of peaceful assembly.
The Emergencies Act has not been used before, but it exists for a reason. Invoking the Emergencies Act is never the first thing government should do, or even the second. The Act is to be used sparingly, 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.
We are using the Emergencies Act to ensure the safety and security of residents living in downtown Ottawa, who have been under an unlawful occupation for over two weeks. Our community deserves to live in peace.
Regards,
YasirNaqviMP.ca |