Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland defended her government's decision to invoke the emergency powers now being used to clear downtown Ottawa, saying Canada's economy and democracy are being threatened.
"A liberal democracy must be prepared to defend itself," she told a news conference Friday as police continued to take into custody protesters demanding the elimination of all pandemic measures who have gridlocked the capital city for nearly three weeks.
The federal government triggered the Emergencies Act earlier this week for the first time in the legislation's history. It brought in new measures prohibiting public assemblies that disrupt the movement of people, goods and trade, or that support the "threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property."
In a dramatic show of force, a line of police officers — some armed with weapons, face shields and gas masks — has been moving along Rideau Street, pushing protesters west and making arrests along the way.
As of 3:53 p.m. ET, police had taken 70 people into custody and towed 21 vehicles.
At one point, officers smashed the window of an orange vehicle and arrested the occupant after he locked himself in.
Armoured tactical vehicles were spotted moving up Rideau — a major downtown artery — with a group of mounted officers nearby.
"When this crisis is over, all of us will need to work hard to heal our country," Freeland told the news conference.
"But today, our economy and our democracy are facing a serious and foreign-funded threat. These illegal blockades and occupation cannot be allowed to usurp the authority of democratically elected governments."
Some of the protesters on the streets linked arms and sang the national anthem. Others sat down or kneeled on the ground, refusing to move.
"Hold the line," some chanted.
On Wellington Street, home of the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill, protesters used shovels and orange and white pylons to build up a wall of snow.
"You will face severe penalties if you do not cease further unlawful activity and remove your vehicle and/or property immediately from all unlawful protest sites," Ottawa police tweeted Friday morning.
Freeland said she takes no satisfaction in seeing the arrests.
"For me this is a day of real sorrow, but also determination," she said.
"And it is a day, I think, where everyone in our government is very resolute."
WATCH | 'It's painful for me that this is happening in Canada,' says Freeland
The government published its reasons for triggering the Emergencies Act late Wednesday, calling the situation across the country "concerning, volatile and unpredictable."
"The protesters have varying ideological grievances, with demands ranging from an end to all public health restrictions to the overthrow of the elected government," the government statement reads.
"Ideologically motivated violent extremism adherents may feel empowered by the level of disorder resulting from the protests."
The statement also said border blockades threaten Canada's economic security.
"The impact on important trade corridors and the risk to the reputation of Canada as a stable, predictable and reliable location for investment may be jeopardized if disruptions continue," it reads.
For six days last week, protesters blocked access to the Ambassador Bridge which connects Windsor and Detroit. The vital trade link was reopened to traffic on Sunday after police moved in.
On Friday, an Ontario judge granted an extension to the injunction that prohibits anyone from blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge. The previous order was set to expire Monday.
Debate delayed
A debate in the House of Commons on the government's controversial decision to invoke the Emergencies Act has been temporarily suspended as the police operation continues on the parliamentary precinct's doorstep.
House leaders previously reached a deal to debate the use of the Emergencies Act on Friday and throughout the weekend, from 7 a.m. ET to midnight, with a vote planned for Monday.
The extraordinary powers provided by the legislation have been in effect since Monday, but the Emergencies Act stipulates that the federal government also must go before Parliament to seek approval from MPs and senators.
Government House Leader Mark Holland tweeted that he hopes the debate can resume Saturday.
"We are closely monitoring the police operation in downtown Ottawa today and will await further advice from security officials on Parliament Hill on when the House can reopen," he wrote.
WATCH | A timeline of the convoy protest that has paralyzed downtown Ottawa:
A note sent to senators on Friday morning asks them to stay away from the downtown core.
The Conservatives have argued the government has not backed up its claim that the demonstrations pose a serious threat to Canada and can't be dealt with through existing laws.
"We want to lower the temperature across the country. The prime minister clearly wants to raise it," interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said in the House Thursday.
"This is not a game. It comes at the cost to Canadians' rights and freedoms."
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) announced Thursday that it plans to sue the federal government over its decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.
"Emergency powers cannot and must not be normalized," said CCLA executive director Noa Mendelsohn.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party plans to support the Emergencies Act declaration — which would carry it through the minority Parliament — but is ready to pull its support if the measures are no longer necessary or if the government takes on additional powers.
"This is not a protest. It is not peaceful," Singh said during Thursday's debate.
"The organizers of this illegal occupation have been clear from the beginning. They came here to overthrow a democratically elected government."
Downtown Ottawa locked down
Interim Ottawa police chief Steve Bell said the Emergencies Act and the provincial state of emergency provided police with the resources they needed to push back and end the demonstration.
"The three levels of government that have come together to support our efforts in this have led us to be able to have the success we're starting to see right now," he said Friday.
"Without the authorities provided to us through these pieces of legislation, we wouldn't be able to be doing the work we are today."
Ottawa's downtown core remains locked down Friday morning, with about 100 checkpoints preventing protesters from entering the zone.
They act also prohibit people from bringing minors near unlawful assemblies and authorize banks and insurance companies to freeze participants' accounts and cancel their vehicle insurance.
On Friday, police escorted at least one tearful family with school-aged children away from the scene.
On Thursday, police arrested Chris Barber and Tamara Lich, key organizers of the protest convoy that began as a demonstration against vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions.
Both are expected to make court appearances on Friday.
According to police, Barber is charged with counselling to commit the offence of mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to commit the offence of obstructing police.
Lich has been charged with counselling to commit the offence of mischief, police said.
CBC News has confirmed another of the convoy leaders, Pat King, was among those arrested Friday.
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Freeland defends arrests of protesters, says Canada's democracy and economy are under threat - CBC News
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