While Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams says the majority of people agree that anti-COVID measure blockades need to end, he calls it unfortunate that the government resorted to such a draconian solution.
Williams issued a statement Tuesday saying the Official Opposition presented many potential but effective solutions, they were voted down by the government and the NDP members and instead the Emergencies Act was invoked.
He adds the Emergency Act will not directly impact residents of the Bay of Quinte, but says keeping COVID mandates will take away hope, while invoking the Emergency Act is only inflaming Canadians.
Read his official statement below:
MP Williams says Keeping Mandates Takes Away Hope While Invoking Emergency
Act Just Inflames
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams says the majority agree that all blockades need to
end quickly and peacefully. However, Williams says “It is unfortunate that the Government had
to resort to such a draconian solution – invoking The Emergencies Act. The Official Opposition
had presented many potential but effective solutions. Their motion to present Canadians with a
simple plan that would see the end of mandates was voted down in the house by the
government and the NDP members.”
Further, MP Williams says “The Emergency Act will not directly impact residents of the Bay of
Quinte in any way. It will be limited to the specified public order emergency, which are the
blockades in the National Capital Region and at international border crossings.”
The powers within the Emergencies Act came into effect February 14, 2022. Parliament must
debate and vote on the proposed use of the Emergencies Act within seven days. If the House of
Commons continues to support the invocation of the act, the powers granted would not be
permanent, as they automatically end after 30 days. All actions taken by the Federal
Government under the Emergencies Act must comply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Under the Emergencies Act, a public order emergency grants the federal government the right
to regulate or prohibit “any public assembly that may reasonably be expected to lead to a
breach of the peace; travel to, from or within any specified area; or the use of specified
property;” designate and secure protected places; assume control, restoration and
maintenance of public utilities and services; direct any person or “class of persons” to render
essential services, with “the provision of reasonable compensation;” and impose fines and
indictments “for contravention of any order or regulation made under this section.”
