Sen. Rand Paul, a libertarian Republican from Kentucky, has issued a warning to Americans after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent use of seldom-used legislation to break up the “Freedom Convoy” trucker demonstration in Ottawa.
An interview with a political podcast broadcast on Sunday in which Paul contrasted the “Emergencies Act” of Canada to analogous statutes in the United States, noting that many ‘National Emergencies’ had been proclaimed years ago and renewed by presidents without discussion or publicity.
Speaking on BASED Politics, Paul remarked that “I believe legislation that empowers president or heads of state to proclaim emergencies are extremely, very hazardous.”
I’ve been an outspoken opponent of the same kind of legislation in my own country for many years now. He said that the United States has a law called the Emergency Act that empowers the president to shut down the internet if the situation demands it.
According to Fox News:
Following Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act to cut off financing for “Freedom Convoy” truckers and freeze their bank accounts, as well as clamp down on lingering protests in Ottawa, other human rights organizations in Canada have come out against him as well. Although the trucker demonstration has been evicted from the Canadian capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not yet lifted the state of emergency.
Paul described his failure to rally anti-Trump Democrats and libertarian-leaning Republicans to defeat Trump-era emergency authority legislation.
“[Sen.] Mike Lee proposed some changes to the Emergency Act that we should consider,” Paul said. “Some situations in the US have been going on for decades. And the president may renew them annually. “He can’t be stopped.”
On Feb. 16, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul tweeted that Canada has become Egypt, with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi increasing emergency powers to arbitrarily arrest or target political opponents.
When Canada became Egypt . . . ruled by emergency edict that allows prohibition of public assembly, travel, and the commandeering of private companies without your day in court.https://t.co/wvX2BydS4x
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 16, 2022
“The emergency decree that Trudeau issued in Canada permits him to do awful things, including restricting travel and jailing individuals without charge or trial. He may or may not do it, but it is extremely concerning,” Paul remarked.
Several Canadian organizations oppose Trudeau’s emergency declaration.
Despite the truckers’ protestations, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the prime minister did not need to use the Emergencies Act. The organization claims the legislation is reserved for conduct that “cannot be successfully dealt with under any other law of Canada.”
Nonetheless, the Canadian parliament backed Trudeau’s proclamation on Monday, with two left-wing parties joining forces.
“Although the Prime Minister was given immediate use of the Emergencies Act powers, legislative approval is necessary within seven days. On an undetermined date, Canada’s Senate must authorize the deployment of emergency powers,” the Washington Post said.
It must be transitory, temporary, and proportional, Trudeau declared before the vote.
Thank you Senator Paul for your hard work in the Senate on behalf the American People. We are appalled what the Canadian socialist government is doing. Praying for our neighbors to the North.🙏 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇲
Thank you senator Paul God bless you
I agree👍We need to stand together strongly🇺🇸… An keep our EYE’s on the Those ‘Sleepy Joe Biden Gang😡…
You never know when a despotic leader will determine what is an “emergency” and use the powers granted against political opponents. Just like Truedope did in Canada. The liberals in this country are trying to call their opposition, conservatives, terrorists and the biggest threat to our “democracy”. The only time these powers should be used is against actual terrorists.
Trudope has got to go. He is an entitled, spoiled, elitist. Does not work for the working class. I’m not as proud of being a Canadian as I have been in the past. Very sad state of affairs.
Emergency should NEVER be used against the Countrys Citizens!
He needs to be our next President. One foot on the ground ,one on the people.
Can everyone feel the time is coming for all of these criminals to finally start getting their just reward the socialist democratic criminal organization these are the liars cheats and thieves that has weaseled their way into our government soon they must be shipped to Guantánamo Bay where they have the apparatus that has been designed and built especially for these criminals to all get their short drop and a quick start these treasonous traders come very close to bringing our whole country down from now on we must do a much better job vetting these politicians and from now on having a Tidal politician does not give you the right to lie to the American people the lying must stop when they take the oath of their office whatever office that they run for what they have sworn and oath their oath must be followed I do not want to see you no more paper laying on the groundWhere they have written their oath on the piece of paper and then get rid of it when they take the oath lying to the American people must bring a very long prison sentence and remember no mercy for these traitors to our country God bless the United States of America God bless our beloved President Donald John Trump and our first lady Melania and the entire Trump family thank you for Uncovering so many criminals in our government and uncovering so many Cabal members now we must go about rounding up these criminals and hurting them in to the corral at Guantánamo Bay where we have an apparatus designed and built especially for these types of criminals all these treasonous traders must face the horrible price they must take that short drop with a quick stop and put it in to these traitors to our country
The past 2 years have seen many US state governors and city mayors use the fear demic to arbitrarily lockdown and fire people from jobs who do not agree with the same draconian measures Trudeau in Canada has taken. Biden is also a culprit of these same tactics. Rescinding powers of presidents, governors, mayors, prime ministers, premiers and the like to bark out executive orders that have been granted by state legislation or city councils should happen immediately. Once a dictator on any level of government is given the ability to abuse their authority, freedom of the people is in grave jeopardy. Thank you Sen Rand Paul for continually voicing reason and wise judgment.