It took disrupting the flow of the ECONOMY for several weeks for the Trudeau Liberals to activate the Emergencies Act for the first time in this country's history. This may set a bad precedent for the future. We've been mired in this pandemic for about two years now, and tens of thousands of Canadians have died. Many more yet have had their lives, and livelihoods just as often, ruined throughout the entire ordeal so far (I hope that it's over sooner than later, but how often does hope turn out...). Think about it...
The economy was affected by these blockades (which appear to be ongoing, as of this writing), with the RCMP (an institution that answers to the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, namely the Governor in Council), municipal and provincial governments all refusing to take actual measures against these disruptions (especially in Conservative-run areas) and the RCMP practically coddling the individuals involved. While there are divisions of the RCMP at federal, provincial, and municipal levels (keep in mind that Ontario has two; one [national] for Ottawa and one for the province [O Division]), these all answer, ultimately, to the federal government as previously mentioned. The Governor in Council is the one who determines who is the Commissioner, and the latter is the one who handles all RCMP delegations and regulations & such.
In other words: the PRIME MINISTER does not have say on RCMP matters, but...
The RCMP is a federal institution. So the federal government has ultimate say on anything to do with the RCMP.
So the federally-regulated RCMP, at its various levels (from the Governor in Council and downward) FAILED to properly address an ongoing, three-week disruption of the economy and the lives of those affected, whether directly or indirectly. This disruption has been co-opted from the very beginnings of the movement by all sorts of unsavory and opportunistic fiends with self-interested agendas of power and even oppression (in at least some cases). It has received funding from abroad, which will have further ramifications down the road. Let's not forget the overwhelming messaging of hatred and division, particularly of the WHITE SUPREMACIST variety (or should I say, varieties, because while similar, there are multiple camps of white supremacy). Even fascism has played a part in the overall messaging of this movement.
And the RCMP have treated them with kid gloves. Look at this latest development to see an example of how nice this institution has been to the 'protestors':
And the Trudeau Liberals have, as mentioned at the outset, activated the Emergencies Act for the first time ever, over this thing. There are a number of things wrong with this approach. While I don't hold any allegiance to, or love for, the Liberals (or any party for that matter, in spite of voting Liberal in the most recent election for strategic reasons since I absolutely ABHOR the Conservatives), this will likely destroy the chance of the country avoiding another CPC reign of terror come the next election.
Also consider that this act being activated may encourage anyone in office to utilize it again in, say, a different situation? Like, I dunno, Indigenous Rights/Environmentalist/Social Justice activists protesting against grievances caused by the government and all of its regulated institutions & partner corporations? Such examples that are ongoing include:
- The Fairy Creek protests
- Wet'suwet'en First Nation protesting against Coastal GasLink Pipeline activity on THEIR SOVEREIGN LAND
Let's also consider that FIPA (the Foreign Investment Protection Act, which overwhelmingly benefits Chinese-owned assets here, over Canadian-owned assets in China) remains in place for another 25 approximate years. FIPA gives China effective right to litigate (read: sue) against the Canadian government should it deem its investments within our country threatened or impacted in any way that is detrimental to economic standing. Since the Chinese government has a close-knit business relationship with multiple corporations, this is an issue that will continue to have ramifications for all of us for decades into the future. Do not underestimate this bill as it is very likely the reason why the Wet'suwet'en FN gets harassed and mistreated by the RCMP to this day.
Honestly I could go on much, much further but this is not the right platform for that. This is already very long and I doubt most will read this in its entirety, but this act being activated for the first time ever is far more reckless than you might realize. It indicates greater problems within the various institutions of power in this country and a tilted balance of perspectives into who gets controlled/quelled, and who doesn't.
...and it isn't far-right nutjobs with mostly white-supremacist agendas that appear to be considered liable for controlling/quelling.
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