MPs Rachael Thomas, Glen Motz, Martin Shields, John Barlow. (Photos from Rachael Thomas, Glen Motz, Martin Shields, John Barlow on Facebook)

By David Opinko

Southern Alberta MPs voice opposition to Emergencies Act

Feb 22, 2022 | 11:46 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Local Members of Parliament are not happy with Monday night’s vote regarding the Emergencies Act.

MPs voted 185-151 to confirm the declaration of temporary emergency powers that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said was necessary to end blockades in Ottawa and elsewhere.

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Among the politicians who voted against this motion were the four who represent the majority of Southern Alberta south of Calgary.

This includes Rachael Thomas (Lethbridge), Glen Motz (Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner), John Barlow (Foothills), and Martin Shields (Bow River). The four are all members of the Conservative Party of Canada.

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Barlow said in a Facebook post that he is one of the Conservative members who have signed a notice of motion to remove the Emergencies Act.

“I will not back down when it comes to standing up for my constituents, our civil liberties, our rights and freedoms. I along with many of my Conservative colleagues, have signed a notice of motion to revoke the Emergencies Act. Trudeau tried to bully votes by threatening his backbench & NDP MPs with an election if he didn’t get his way. We won’t let our democratic institution be governed by a schoolyard bully. This will be brought to the House next week, debated and voted on.”

Prior to the vote in the House of Commons, Thomas spoke in a Facebook Live video, saying that she would be voting against the Act because she had been listening to Canadians while Trudeau had not.

She adds that the blockades in Coutts, Windsor, Surrey, and elsewhere were cleared out without these powers being in effect.

“If these were able to be cleared up without this over-exaggeration of power, then Ottawa could have been too.”

Thomas was especially concerned about the Act’s ability to freeze bank accounts.

“[Trudeau] has the opportunity to then cease control of the monetary flow for those individuals who hold views different than his own. Madame Speaker, this is an abuse of power.”

Shields also put out a brief video prior to the vote, saying “we will continue, every step of the way, to hold the Liberals to account for what they are doing.”

Once the motion was approved, Motz simply shared a statement on social media from Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen.

“Conservative MPs stood up for Canadians and voted against this government overreach. The Emergencies Act was not necessary to clear the blockades. The government already had all the tools they need under the current Canadian Law. We will continue to fight this power grab by the Prime Minister and his government,” reads a section of Bergen’s statement.