Key Takeaways:
- Only hours before PM Justin Trudeau declared it would be scrapped, the Saskatchewan NDP backed their political opponent in criticizing the way the Emergencies Act was handled.
- Before the statute was overturned, Premier Scott Moe stated that he was open to the idea of the province appealing the invocation in court.
- Politicians in Saskatchewan and throughout the world were quick to respond to Trudeau’s announcement.
Only hours before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared it would be scrapped, the Saskatchewan NDP joined their political opponent in criticizing how the Emergencies Act was handled.
“Our police forces have the tools they recto manage these concerns, and they did so successfully and proactively, so we don’t see it as required in our province,” stated NDP Deputy Leader Nicole Sarauer of the relatively brief and unobtrusive protests in Saskatchewan on Wednesday.
“We believe the federal government should have looked into Section 19, step two of the Emergencies Act, which would have permitted it to be used in particular parts of Canada.”
Also read: A city committee in Saskatoon has recommended that the mask requirement be kept
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said earlier this week before the law was overturned that he was open to the notion of the province contesting the invocation in court.
When asked if the NDP would support such a move, Sarauer didn’t say yes or no but said a legal battle might be worthwhile.
“There is some concern, and we believe that a court challenge would bring some clarification as to whether this was the proper moment to use it and how it may be utilized better in the future,” she said before Trudeau’s Wednesday afternoon press conference.
Politicians in Saskatchewan and throughout the world reacted quickly to Trudeau’s declaration.
“The federal government canceling the Emergencies Act is the proper thing to do because it must not have been invoked in the first place,” Scott Moe said in a statement.
“Law enforcement authorities already had all of the tools they needed to combat unlawful behavior, and we appreciate the men and women in uniform who work hard every day to keep Canadians safe.” Now that the usage of the Emergencies Act has come to an end, it’s time to put a stop to mandates and limitations.
“It is past time for the Trudeau administration to lay forth a plan for all Canadians to go back to normal.”
“It’s crucial to recognize that this first use of the Emergencies Act is precedent-setting and will have repercussions moving forward,” Sarauer said in a statement following the declaration.
“It is our responsibility to assess not just the existing conditions, but also the prospective future circumstances of this law.”
“By no means does that mean that criminal actions made should go undetected and any illegal action should be thoroughly prosecuted,” she continued, reiterating her claim that the federal government should have reduced the regions covered by the legislation.
Source: Global News
