Federal Court deems Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act “unreasonable”

Federal Court of Canada deems Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act to freeze crypto during protests “unreasonable”

In a recent ruling, the Federal Court of Canada declared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to freeze crypto assets linked to the “freedom convoy” protests in 2022 as an unjustifiable violation of civil liberties. The court specifically criticized the freezing of bank accounts and cryptocurrencies of individuals associated with the protests as unwarranted.

Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley emphasized that the Emergencies Act should only be used as a last resort and not as a convenient tool for the government. Mosley highlighted that the majority of provinces were able to address the situation using existing federal laws and provincial legislation, making the invocation of the Emergencies Act unnecessary.

The protests in Canada in 2022 were a response to stringent COVID-19 protocols, leading the government to enact the National Emergency Act to quell what it considered as “rogue” protesters. This granted the government powers to bypass financial protocols, including freezing bank accounts without a court order. Some protesters turned to cryptocurrencies, prompting authorities to direct regulated financial institutions to halt transactions from 34 crypto wallets associated with funding the protests.

The impact of the court ruling on those affected by the Emergencies Act and their ability to seek damages from the government remains uncertain, as the government plans to appeal the decision.

In related news, KPMG Canada has partnered with Chainalysis to combat crypto fraud and exploitation in the country. For more updates on the latest developments in the crypto world, visit Global Crypto News.