BBC:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken the unprecedented step of invoking the Emergencies Act to crack down on anti-vaccine mandate protests.
Mr Trudeau said the scope of the measures would be „time-limited“, „reasonable and proportionate“ and would not see the military deployed.
With no need for a court order, banks will be able freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests.
Hundreds of demonstrators remain in Canada’s capital city.
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„This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs,“ Mr Trudeau told a news conference on Monday.
He said the police would be given „more tools“ to imprison or fine protesters and protect critical infrastructure.
Mr Trudeau told reporters the legislation would be applied temporarily and in a highly specific manner.
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Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at Monday’s news conference that banks would be able freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests without any need for a court order.
Vehicle insurance of anyone involved with the demonstrations can also be suspended, she added.
Ms Freeland said they were broadening Canada’s „Terrorist Financing“ rules to cover cryptocurrencies and crowdfunding platforms, as part of the effort.
„It’s all about following the money,“ she said.
She spoke after hackers released details of what they said were 93,000 donations for the truckers totalling $8.4m (£6.2m) to the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo.
The Emergencies Act, passed in 1988, requires a high legal bar to be invoked. It may only be used in an „urgent and critical situation“ that „seriously endangers the lives, health or safety of Canadians“. Lawful protests do not qualify.
Speaking on Monday, Canada’s Justice Minister David Lametti argued these conditions had been met.
But the Canadian Civil Liberties Association disagreed, warning that the move „threatens our democracy and our civil liberties“.
