Perrin Beatty, the former Conservative defense secretary who helped draft the emergency law in the 1980s, wrote a text message to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in February about the potential implications of the federal government’s use of emergency powers. He said he was concerned about a “long-term issue” with .
On February 22, eight days after the federal government invoked the Emergency Act, Beatty wrote to Freeland: The law was revoked on February 23rd.
“There are also many long-term issues to consider once this is over. This requires taking other steps that could eliminate the need to use special powers in the law in the future. whether and how to repair holes in our legal system,” Beatty continued in her message.
A screenshot of the message was entered as evidence by the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) on February 24.
Beatty also worried that using the emergency law could lead to a “radicalization” of Canadians who are “normally committed to law-abiding and going about their daily lives.” I said yes.
Beatty, now 72 years old and president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, sponsored the bill in 1987, which was eventually passed as an emergency law a year later.
“Last Resort”
Freeland told POEC yesterday that she appreciated Beatty’s “cooperation,” but declined to comment on a text message Beatty sent her in February.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, during her testimony at POEC on November 24, she said of the government’s use of the emergency law, “to fully understand that we are talking about very powerful actions that will polarize the country.” I understand.”
Beatty said in May that an ongoing public inquiry into the government’s use of the law was a key element in maintaining government transparency.
“If you don’t have [transparency]That way people will always suspect something is being withheld,” Beatty told the Canadian Press in an interview in early May.
In March, Beattie came forward. parliamentary joint committee For the declaration of a state of emergency, we provide the background to the state of emergency law and the thresholds that must be met to justify its use.
Beatty told the committee he wouldn’t comment on whether the federal government’s use of the emergency law in February was justified, but the law was “legislation of last resort.” It was designed as a
“That’s clear. It’s designed to be used when there is no other legal authority to adequately resolve an emergency,” he told the committee on March 29.
“I need to know the basis on which the authorities were determined not to have sufficient powers to act. And was the emergency so serious that it was imperative to invoke the law?”
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
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