This Post May Soon Be Superseded by Events.

 

I was unpleasantly surprised to see Justin Trudeau, at a press conference this morning, not say he was going to withdraw the Emergency Act. It is obviously no longer necessary, and it has obviously already been abused.

If it goes through, I fear the only way to restore faith in Canadian democracy and Canadian institutions is to remove Trudeau from office as quickly as possible. This will be a job for the Liberal caucus, or, failing that, the House, through a no confidence motion. Ordinarily, one should go no further; if former leaders are prosecuted, this becomes an incentive to try to seize power instead of leaving office when voted out. However, some step must be taken to ensure that the Emergency Act is never used capriciously again, or abused in the course of its use. 

Perhaps Parliament could swiftly pass a new law making improperly evoking or using the Emergency Act  itself a criminal offense—the offense of tyranny.

It must be clear that the government cannot seize or freeze assets in the absence of a specific crime, and never without a court order. With penalties for doing so.

It should also be made illegal to employ police without visible identification—numbered badge and, ideally, face visible. Otherwise it becomes impossible for the public to hold individuals to account, freeing them to abuse power. Without such ID, gangs or insurgents can pretend to be police. And the public has a right to suspect the government is employing foreign mercenaries or foreign troops.

If the NDP supports the Emergency Act, Jagmeet Singh should also be removed from his position. But this can only be done by the NDP itself. If they do not, they will no doubt pay the price at next election.

I do not say that any of this will happen—only that if it does not, Canadian democracy and civil peace is doomed.