On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the never-before-used Emergencies Act in order to crack down on Freedom Convoy protesters, who have been peacefully demonstrating for over two weeks. As part of the act, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced an expansion of “terrorist financing” rules that would allow banks to freeze assets with no oversight. The new measures also apply to crowdfunding outlets and payment processing providers.
“We are broadening the scope of Canada’s anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules so that they cover crowdfunding platforms and the payment service providers they use.” Freeland said. The expanded rules will also apply to digital assets, such as cryptocurrency. “The illegal blockades have highlighted the fact that crowdfunding platforms and some of the payment service providers they use are not fully captured under the proceeds of crime and terrorist financing act,” Freeland continued, prompting the changes. As of today, all crowdfunding platforms and service providers must register with the Canadian government’s financial intelligence unit, FINTRAC, and report “large and suspicious transactions.”
Oh my fucking goodness: Canada's Deputy Prime Minister says that, as part of the Emergencies Act, they are broadening Canada's "Terrorist Financing" rules so that they cover crowdfunding platforms and cryptocurrencies to the Canadian Freedom Convoy pic.twitter.com/35bXSu4k6j
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 14, 2022
Freeland went on to threaten truckers with extreme measures if they do not go home. “If your truck is being used in these illegal blockades, your corporate accounts will be frozen, the insurance on your vehicle will be suspended,” Freeland added. Banks and financial services providers will also be allowed to freeze or suspend accounts without a court order. “In doing so, they will be protected against civil liability for actions taken in good faith,” the Deputy PM continued.
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister:
"If your truck is being used in these illegal blockades, your corporate accounts will be frozen, the insurance on your vehicle will be suspended." pic.twitter.com/iv1K8VDhAL
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 14, 2022
This is literal madness.
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister says, under the Emergencies Act, banks can immediately freeze or suspend bank accounts without a court order and be protected from civil liability.
Is this still a free country? pic.twitter.com/IzAALIxzbB
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 14, 2022
Trudeau has stated that he does not intend to deploy the military as part of the act. Though the measures will apply to all of Canada, the Trudeau regime has promised that enforcement will take place in specific locations, namely Ottawa. Trudeau has stated that the emergency declaration will be “time limited.”