The Canadian Parliament voted this week to extend Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s State of Emergency initially authorized to end the country’s ‘Freedom Trucker’ protest.
The Emergencies Act was approved by a vote of 185 to 151.
Critics of the legislation say Trudeau’s expanded powers are unnecessary and inappropriate for handling domestic protests. Supporters claim the move is necessary to end weeks of demonstrations that have clogged the country’s capital city of Ottawa.
Canadian lawmakers extend emergency powers pushed by Trudeau https://t.co/UQCPYZ8UhJ pic.twitter.com/jCFwh5rYa0
— The Hill (@thehill) February 22, 2022
South of the border, American law enforcement agencies believe a similar ‘Trucker Convoy’ may descend on Washington, DC before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on March 1st.
“Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, DC around the time of the State of the Union. As with any demonstration, the USCP will facilitate lawful First Amendment activity,” Capitol Police warned in a memo.
“The USCP is closely coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Park Police, the United States Secret Service and other allied agencies to include the DC National Guard,” added the agency.
Read the full report here.