Emergencies Act gets warm reception from Winnipeg mayor, but cold shoulder from protesters

The prime minister's decision to give the federal government temporary powers to handle ongoing blockades and protests against pandemic restrictions has raised collective concerns among those protesting outside Manitoba's provincial legislature.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history Monday, and according to those protesting outside the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg, the move is unwarranted.

"I don't think there's any legal basis for it. I think it's a gross government overstep," Christina Friesen said Tuesday. "An Emergencies Act is not intended to be used against their own people. We're not terrorists. We're just everyday, hard-working people standing up for our rights and freedoms."

Friesen, a long-haul truck driver from Steinbach, contends the protest outside the seat of Manitoba's democracy is peaceful, and that Trudeau's actions will only contribute to rising tensions.

"It's going to cause more distrust among everybody," she said.

The protest site at Memorial Boulevard and Broadway initially formed on Feb. 4 in response to the federal government's imposition of a vaccination mandate for truckers crossing into the United States, but has since drawn in a wide array of groups disaffected by COVID-19 health restrictions.

The protest, dubbed the Freedom Convoy, has also drawn its share of ire, especially from residents fed up with the traffic and noise generated by honking trucks circling the area while adorned with signs and Canadian flags.

On Tuesday, protest co-organizer Caleb Brown said the convoy will eliminate all horn-honking on weekdays, with the exception of two daily two-minute periods — at 9 a.m. and 6:58 p.m.

"We can't control passing traffic, but the trucks that you see here will be silent with the exception of those two [times]," Brown said.

For the past several days, trucks had been honking for two minutes at the top of every hour, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has been outspoken in his criticism of the protest outside the legislature.

In a statement Tuesday, he said he is grateful the federal government is "taking action to make additional tools available to assist with the quick and peaceful end to the unlawful occupations," raising the possibility the Emergencies Act could be used in the city.

"Once the federal government has published and finalized the regulations, our public service will be able to consider if and how they may assist in our community," Bowman said.

Convoy protester Paul Bigras said he believes the Emergencies Act is an overstep by the federal government, but promised protesters outside the legislature will respond with kindness.