Why did Justin Trudeau invoke the Emergencies Act during the Freedom Convoy protest?

In February 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history to restore order following weeks of disruptive protests known as the Freedom Convoy.12

The government took this action because local authorities and police were struggling to defuse the situation, which involved thousands of demonstrators and vehicles clogging the streets of Ottawa and disrupting daily life. Furthermore, protesters had established blockades at critical locations like the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. These blockades halted nearly one-fourth of U.S.-Canada cross-border trade, resulting in daily economic losses of approximately $300 million to $360 million.12

By invoking the act, the federal government gained broad powers to address the crisis, including the authority to impose fines, arrest and incarcerate protesters, and tow vehicles blocking the roads. These measures successfully quelled the protests by late February.12