Saskatchewan Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre thanked the Rouleau Commission for its work, but noted that her government disagrees with its conclusion that invoking the Emergencies Act was justified. Other provincial parties' reactions were also negative.
Negative reactions to the Emergencies Act Inquiry Report across Saskatchewan | Western Standard - Christopher Oldcorn:
February 17, 2023 - "There is a universal negative reaction to the Emergencies Act (EA) Inquiry Report in Saskatchewan. The purpose of the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) was to determine whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government were justified in invoking the EA, formerly the War Measures Act. This was the first use of the EA.
"Trudeau used the EA to stop an anti-vaccine and COVID-19 restrictions protest in downtown Ottawa, which went on for several weeks and attracted worldwide attention. Trudeau invoking the EA is one of his most controversial decisions as it gave extraordinary powers to law enforcement to arrest and remove the protesters and tow away their vehicles. Also, the government could freeze the bank accounts of the protesters.
"Commissioner Paul Rouleau said the Trudeau government invoking the EA met a 'very high' threshold as a 'lawful protest descended into lawlessness, culminating in a national emergency.... Invocation of the Emergencies Act is a drastic move, but it is not a dictatorial one,' said Rouleau.
"Saskatchewan’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said 'Saskatchewan’s position has always been invoking the act was unnecessary and that appropriate and effective action to deal with the protests and blockades last year could have been taken under existing federal, provincial, and municipal laws.' Eyre 'is currently reviewing the extensive report findings and recommendations' and 'would like to thank the commission for its work.'
"Sask NDP Official Opposition Justice Critic Nicole Sarauer commented on the EA Inquiry Report. 'The use of the Emergencies Act was unprecedented and will have implications moving forward,' said Sarauer. 'Although we accept the findings of this report … we still believe that there was an opportunity to limit its use to specific regions impacted by blockades, rather than Canada-wide.'
"Buffalo Party’s Mark 'The Grizzly Patriot' Friesen is not surprised with the outcome....'We have judicial corruption across this country, at every level. Why would we expect any difference in the case of the Emergencies Act Commission?'
"Sask United Party Leader Nadine Wilson MLA said 'the vast majority of protesters were clearly exercising their democratic right to peacefully protest. As such, I do not believe the circumstances to invoke the Emergencies Act existed, and do not agree with Commissioner Rouleau's expansive interpretation of it.'
"Kelly Lorencz, The People’s Party of Canada Western Canada and Northern Territories lieutenant, found nothing unexpected in the report.... 'All this report has done is solidify many Canadians' discontent not only with this Liberal government but all elected officials in Ottawa,” said Lorencz.... The implications of this report have the potential to fuel further Western alienation sentiments and create an even bigger divide in Canada'...
Nadine Ness of Unified Grassroots issued a statement [saying in part] ... 'I am disappointed, however, not surprised that Justice Rousseau ruled in this way. The man is a Liberals supporter and should have never been the one ruling over this.... It’s clear the legal definition was not met and the Liberals simply made up their own. This only further proves that we have lost the impartiality in our public service and to an extent our court system. To most Canadians and everyone else around the world, this will be seen as a dark stain in our history and to freedom as a whole.'"
"Saskatchewan premier discusses use of Emergencies Act," CPAC, February 18, 2022:
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