OTTAWA – In response to last year’s Freedom Convoy protests, the Canada Border Services Agency has strengthened the infrastructure at 11 ports of entry to Canada. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced this development on Thursday, providing a six-month update on the government’s efforts to address the recommendations from the federal inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act.
To tackle the weeks-long protests that saw downtown Ottawa and several U.S. border crossings blockaded, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act, the first time it has been used since its creation in 1988. Following Commissioner Paul Rouleau’s final report with 56 recommendations on improving responses to large-scale public order emergencies, LeBlanc is expected to provide the government’s full response by February 2024.
In his recent update, LeBlanc highlighted the progress made in response to Rouleau’s recommendations, focusing on strengthening critical infrastructure security. Although details about the infrastructure improvements at the border crossings were not provided, LeBlanc emphasized their significance. The Canada Border Services Agency has not yet responded to requests for additional information.
Apart from infrastructure enhancements, the Public Safety Department is collaborating with other agencies and departments to renew its strategy for critical infrastructure by 2024. Transport Canada has also initiated discussions with provinces, territories, business groups, and Indigenous organizations to coordinate the handling of serious disruptions to key trade and transportation routes.
Last year, over 15,000 protesters arrived in Ottawa as part of the Freedom Convoy with big-rig trucks to protest COVID-19 public health measures and voice their opposition to Trudeau’s government. Their refusal to leave led to the illegal occupation of the capital, resulting in the blockage of downtown and residential streets. The protests also spread to border crossings in Alberta and Ontario, disturbing important trade routes between Canada and the U.S.
Although the Emergencies Act successfully cleared the majority of border blockades triggered by the protests, Rouleau emphasized that the events leading to its invocation could have been prevented. Rouleau’s recommendations included improvements in intelligence-sharing, police agency communication, and national standards for handling major national or interprovincial events.
While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is still considering the best approach to addressing the recommendations, including those from the Mass Casualty Commission, the federal government is taking the lead in discussions to enhance coordination with provinces, territories, and cities. In response to Rouleau’s suggestion to further research cryptocurrency, which was used to fundraise for the protests, the finance department has initiated a legislative review of the financial sector.
The evolving digitization of money has prompted the department to adapt to maintain stability and security in the financial sector. As such, they are committed to ensuring that cryptocurrencies are properly regulated.
In conclusion, Canada is taking significant steps to strengthen its border infrastructure and address the recommendations stemming from the Freedom Convoy protests. The updates provided by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc signify the ongoing efforts to improve responses to public order emergencies and enhance critical infrastructure security. The government aims to coordinate with various entities and complete these initiatives by 2024.
