This week, the Prime Minister invoked the Emergencies Act to end various protests. Instead of supporting a Conservative motion to create a plan that would end COVID-19 restrictions and allow for peaceful resolution, the Prime Minister is escalating matters.

The Liberal government is expected to introduce a motion in Parliament this week under the Emergencies Act. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will support the move to use the Emergencies Act, while Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said the Bloc is willing to support the Liberals in this case, but only if they committed to leaving Quebec out of the new powers and avoiding deploying military members on the ground in Canada.

• Conservatives will be voting against the Prime Minister’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.

• Conservatives are the party of law and order. We believe the illegal blockades must end quickly and peacefully. However, the actions by Justin Trudeau could have the opposite effect.

• The people protesting are Canadians who are frustrated with the Prime Minister, they want to be heard, and they should be heard.

• The Prime Minister appears to have made no effort to de-escalate the situation. Instead, he has insulted and disrespected Canadians, and then when it blew up, instead of apologizing and listening to what people had to say, has jumped straight to the most extreme measures to deal with these protestors.

• We want to see the government put forward a plan that outlines steps and dates as to when COVID-19 mandates and restrictions will be rolled back. That would reduce the temperature across the country and could address the concerns of many Canadians - not just those who are protesting.

• Imposing powers of the Emergencies Act sets a dangerous precedent. The Government of Canada should not have the power to close the bank accounts of hardworking Canadians simply on the suspicion of supporting causes of which the government doesn’t approve.

• This is a slippery slope, and not how the government should operate in a free and democratic society.

Office of Scott Reid, MP