Dear Editor:
RE: Declaration of war, Feb. 24.
Your “Editor’s note” at the end of this letter gives me the impression that Trudeau’s invoking of the Emergencies Act was no big deal because any actions taken through the act must respect Canadians’ constitutional rights.
Try telling that to supporters of the Freedom Convoy whose bank accounts and credit cards were frozen, so that they were (and I believe many still are) unable to spend their own money on food, gas, heat, rent, mortgages, etc.
The protestors were no doubt guilty of being a nuisance and overstaying their welcome, but by most accounts this was a peaceful protest that did not endanger the lives of any Ottawa citizens. And Barry MacKillop, deputy director of FINTRAC, told the Commons finance committee that as far as his agency is concerned none of the people whose accounts were frozen intended to bring down the Canadian government or destabilize the country’s economy.
On Nov. 30, 2020, during farmer protests against agricultural reform laws that had brought parts of India, including the nation’s capital, to a standstill, Trudeau told a virtual gathering of Sikh Canadians that he stood with the protestors.
He said: “I would be remiss if I didn’t start by recognizing the news coming from India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning … Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters. We believe in the process of dialogue … This is a moment for all of us to pull together.”
By vilifying peaceful protestors and supporters, refusing dialogue, and needlessly invoking the Emergencies Act, Trudeau, supported by the mainstream media, showed that he was willing to divide this country for political gain.
Henry Brunsveld,
Puslinch