Canada’s Justice Minister Threatens to Seize Bank Accounts of ‘Pro-Trump’ Convoy Donors

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti speaks following the announcement of the Emergencies Act invoked to deal with the protest in Ottawa against federal COVID-19 mandates on Feb. 14, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Justice Minister David Lametti labelled people who donated to the trucker’s Freedom Convoy as members of “a pro-Trump movement,” and said those who donate large amounts to protests declared illegal by the government may have their bank accounts frozen.

Lametti made the comment during an interview with CTV News’ Evan Solomon on Feb. 16, after Solomon asked whether Canadians who donated to the convoy protest could have their accounts seized.

“A lot of folks said, ‘I just don’t like your vaccine mandates and I donated to this, now it’s illegal. Should I be worried that the bank can freeze my account?’” Solomon, host of CTV’s Power Play, asked Lametti.

Lametti answered that yes, some donors’ accounts would be targeted.

“If you are a member of a pro-Trump movement, who’s donating hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions of dollars to this kind of thing, then you ought to be worried,” Lametti said in response.

Lametti’s remarks come after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to deal with the ongoing truckers’ demonstrations in Ottawa and elsewhere in the country. The Act gives authorities additional sweeping powers, including the ability to compel towing companies to take away trucks encamped in the city’s downtown core since the end of January.

“The names of both individuals and entities, as well as crypto-wallets have been shared by the RCMP with financial institutions, and accounts have been frozen, and more accounts will be frozen,” Freeland said.

Trudeau said during the Feb. 14 announcement that the emergency measures will be time-limited and used in a targeted and proportionate fashion.

Lametti told CTV News on Feb. 16 that the federal government is prepared to renew the Emergencies Act beyond the 30 days it is in effect before it expires.

“If it runs out at the 30 days and we’re in the position to say that the safety and security of Canadians is assured, we’ll let it expire. If we have to renew it, we will, but I’m hoping that is not the case,” he answered.

The protests began in opposition to the federal government’s vaccination mandate for truck drivers crossing into Canada from the United States, which came into effect on Jan. 15. Under the mandate, Canadian truck drivers have to be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine upon reentry to Canada.

After the truckers drove cross-country to Ottawa arriving on Jan. 29, the protest soon expanded to a national movement with many joining to oppose all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

Most Canadian premiers have said the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act is unnecessary.

Noé Chartier and Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this article.