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Trudeau’s former justice minister resigns from Parliament days after Emergencies Act ruling

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Former Minister of Justice David Lametti

From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

David Lametti worked to enforce the Emergencies Act to shut down the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest that flooded Ottawa during the peak of COVID-related mandates.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s former justice minister David Lametti has announced he is leaving politics just two days after a court ruled that the Trudeau government was “not justified” in invoking the Emergency Act (EA) against the 2022 Freedom Convoy.

On January 25, Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) and former justice minister David Lametti announced his resignation from Parliament to join a law firm just days after Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley ruled that the enactment of the EA to end the 2022 Freedom Convoy violated Charter rights.  

“The last six months have been very difficult,” Lametti told Radio-Canada 

“It is therefore with a certain sadness that I leave a dream position,” Lametti wrote in a letter to his constituents. “I have continued to do my best to fulfill my duties as an MP. It’s been a difficult time on a personal level.” 

Lametti was justice minister since 2019 and worked to enforce the EA which was enacted to shut down the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest that flooded Ottawa during the peak of COVID-related mandates. The popular protest featured tens of thousands of Canadians calling for an end to the mandates by camping outside Parliament Hill.

Measures taken under the EA included freezing the bank accounts of Canadians who donated to the protest, an action now deemed unjustified by the court.    

During his time in office Lametti helped pass several bills, including pushing for increased euthanasia under Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program and banning so-called “conversion therapy” for gender-confused individuals.

Trudeau had removed Lametti from his position as justice minister during a massive cabinet shakeup in July of 2023. During this turnover, Trudeau removed seven people, including some un-popular COVID-era ministers, from their posts. 

Following this, Lametti continued to serve as MP for LaSalle, Émard, Verdun regions in Quebec. He will officially resign from his position on January 31.    

“More proof Trudeau is not worth the cost and crime,” he concluded.  

Lametti’s resignation is not the first piece of drama to flow from the Liberal Party since the Emergencies Act ruling.

Earlier this week, Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Ken McDonald seemed to call for a review of Trudeau’s leadership, before quickly backtracking the next day.

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Freedom Convoy’s Tamara Lich shares heartfelt letter from children: ‘God will be by your side’

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From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Ahead of the announcement of the verdict from her trial in Canada, the Freedom Convoy co-leader posted on X the ‘beautiful letter’ from a 4-year-old and 8-year-old.

With a few weeks until a verdict is released, Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich shared a heartwarming letter she received from a child, who told her to “keep fighting” for everyone and that “God will protect” her from the “enemy.”

Lich shared an image of the letter Thursday on X, writing, “Feels like a good day to share this beautiful letter I received from some very wise children.”

The letter, which was handwritten and sent to Lich by 4-year-old Zavier and 8-year-old Alanis, has the title “God loves You.”

“Thank you for fighting for everyones FREEDOM. God will be by your side and God will protect you from the enemy,” the letter reads.

“With God everything is possible. Stay strong we are praying for you every step of the journey.”

Lich was arrested on February 17, 2022, in Ottawa. Co-leader Chris Barber was arrested the same day.

Lich and Barber’s trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich and Barber’s verdict will be announced on March 12.

They both face a possible 10-year prison sentence. LifeSiteNews reported extensively on their trial.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich recently spelled out how much the Canadian government has spent prosecuting her and Barber for their role in the protests. She said at least $5 million in “taxpayer dollars” has been spent thus far, with her and Barber’s legal costs being above $750,000.

In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the never-before-used Emergencies Act (EA) on February 14, 2022.

During the clear-out of protesters after the EA was put in place, one protester, an elderly lady, was trampled by a police horse and one conservative female reporter was beaten by police and shot with a tear gas canister.

Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23.

The EA controversially allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in assemblies the government deemed illegal.

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Red Deer Freedom Convoy protestor Pat King given 3 months of house arrest

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From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that Pat King must serve three months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his participation in the 2022 Freedom Convoy

Freedom Convoy participant Pat King has been given a 3-month conditional sentence for his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest against COVID mandates.  

On February 19, Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that King must serve three additional months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his role in the Freedom Convoy. King’s sentence would have been 12 months, but the court gave him credit for time served prior to his trial. 

“In the court’s opinion, there is a social harm to unduly elevating the sentencing rules of denunciation and deterrence in the context of political protests to result in punitive sentences at the top of the sentencing range,” Hackland wrote, explaining why he did not opt to sentence King to a whopping 10-year prison sentence, as the Crown prosecutors had advocated for.

“The risk is that an overly severe sentence of imprisonment in the context of legitimate, constitutionally protected activity can have the effect of creating a chill or fear of participation in political expression,” he continued. 

In November, King was found guilty of two counts of disobeying a court order, one count of mischief, one count of counselling others to commit mischief, as well as one count of counselling others to obstruct police.   

King’s charges are in relation to his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy which featured thousands of Canadians camping out in downtown Ottawa to call for an end to the COVID regulations and vaccine mandates in place at the time.  

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022, to put an end to the popular convoy. Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23, but only after using the powers granted by the legislation to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in the assembly.  

The two main Freedom Convoy leaders, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are still awaiting their verdicts for their involvement in the 2022 protests. Like King, if convicted, they face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

While some of the most notable people involved in the protest, like Lich and Barber, face a slew of charges that come with potentially harsh sentences, other protesters charged for participating have seen their charges dropped.

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