OTTAWA, Ontario (Great Lakes News) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to crack down on protestors speaking out against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions.

This move has been described as an “unprecedented step.”

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Trudeau said the scope of the measures would be “time-limited”, “reasonable and proportionate” and would not see the military deployed.

With no need for court orders, banks can freeze personal accounts of anyone linked with the protests.

Hundreds of demonstrators remain in Canada’s capital city and have been protesting the country’s strict COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.

While several Canadian provinces have lifted mandates in recent days, Trudeau has doubled-down.

According to the Canadian Bill of Rights, citizens have the right to peaceably assemble.