A Canadian appeals court ruled Friday that former prime minister Justin Trudeau was wrong to use emergency powers to dislodge trucker‑led protesters who were angry over Covid vaccine mandates.
The self‑styled "Freedom Convoy" of truckers rolled into downtown Ottawa in January 2022 from across Canada, blocking roads and distressing residents.
With no apparent pathway to end the protest, Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, giving his government extraordinary powers to dismantle the convoy -- a controversial move opposed by many civil liberties groups.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) took the government to court, arguing that Trudeau, who left office last year, acted inappropriately.
The CCLA won an initial victory two years ago, a decision that was affirmed by the Federal Court of Appeal on Friday.
Trudeau's cabinet "did not have reasonable grounds to believe that a national emergency existed," the court said, adding that the decision to invoke extraordinary powers was "unreasonable."
CCLA executive director Howard Sapers told AFP the decision "was of historic importance."
"It means that the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Canadians will be less likely to be trampled on because of government overreach," he added.
In addition to enhanced powers to dismantle the protest, the Emergencies Act also allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of key convoy leaders.
Trudeau has described his decision to use the act as a "measure of last resort," saying he believed "there was no other choice to keep Canadians safe."
A separate public inquiry into the decision, which ultimately backed Trudeau's actions, cited an out‑of‑control situation plagued by a policing breakdown and escalating threats of violence.
The federal government can appeal Friday's decision to the Supreme Court.
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