Alberta challenging federal Emergencies Act against protesters in court: Kenney

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said the province will be filing a court challenge against the federal government’s invocation of the Emergency Act meant to help handle the Convoy protests across Canada.

In a video posted to Twitter Saturday, Kenney said the measure is redundant and “doesn’t make sense.”

“The Emergencies Act is an unnecessary and disproportionate measure that can violate civil liberties, invades provincial jurisdiction and creates a very dangerous precedent for the future,” he said. “Provincial law enforcement authorities are able to deal with illegal road blockades.”

Kenney clarifies people have the right to peacefully and lawfully protest. No matter what cause people are standing for, “law and order must prevail regardless.”

“Why does the federal government using a power that is not necessary to seize up bank accounts and assets, for example, from people arbitrarily, extrajudicially, without court orders based on their opinions or who they’ve donated to? Power is really designed to interrupt things like terrorist financing.”

The premier said he’s already spoken to the Prime Minister and written his concerns with the act.

Read More: 

• Trudeau defends Emergencies Act in House of Commons

• Two-thirds support Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act against protesters: poll

• Almost 50 arrested as police say ‘important progress made’ in clearing Ottawa protesters

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his government’s move to invoke the Emergencies Act in the House of Commons.

“Some protesters came to Ottawa to express their frustration and fatigue with public health measures, that’s their right. Like I said, it’s a right that we’ll defend in this free and democratic country, but illegal blockades and occupations are not peaceful protests, they have to stop,” Trudeau said.

“I want to reassure Canadians that when the Emergencies Act is invoked, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms continues to protect their individual rights. We’re not using the Emergencies Act to call in the military, we are not limiting freedom of expression, we’re not limiting freedom of peaceful assembly, we are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally,” Trudeau added.

This move has received mixed reactions from the federal members of parliament after Trudeau announced he would bring in the act for the first time in Canada’s history to respond to ongoing demonstrations across the country, particularly those who had blocked the U.S-Canada border crossings in recent weeks.

The province will also consider applying as an intervener to support the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Constitution Foundation.

“We need to take action to defend, yes the law and order, but also civil liberties and our constitution in Canada.”