there’s a more fundamental problem with the Emergencies Act, arising from another definition. The Act isn’t about taking over provincial and municipal responsibilities for public order. It’s far broader than that: section 16 defines a Public Order Emergency as arising “from threats to the security of Canada” defined in the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act (CSIS Act). Those definitions include “espionage or sabotage,” “foreign influenced activities,” (foreign donors unlikely to meet the definition) “serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objective,” and the “overthrow by violence of the constitutionally established system of government in Canada.”
If that’s what we think is really happening in Ottawa, in Coutts, and elsewhere, then the prime minister might declare a national emergency, but thus far a compelling case that these protests are “threats to the security of Canada” as defined in the CSIS Act hasn’t been made by him or anyone else in a position of authority.
Greg Taylor served in the Canadian Army for 25 years. Following his military service, he worked as a provincial emergency manager and a consultant. He has significant experience planning for, and dealing with, public welfare and public order emergencies.