Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu stands by the government’s decision to appeal the ruling from a federal court stating the invocation of the Emergency Act last year was unconstitutional, noting the judge’s consideration of various factors.
“In the court ruling the judge did say that he could understand why cabinet came to this decision. I think that, listen we’re going to appeal that decision. I was in downtown Ottawa when the occupation was in place, it was extremely frightening for the residents of Ottawa. ”
Hajdu acknowledged the financial hardships faced by shop owners who were forced to close due to the crowds which jammed up the streets of the downtown Ottawa area, adding there were cases of people being targeted due to their visible minority status and even instances of gender based violence.
Adding she experienced a personal close call as a result of the takeover.
“Fireworks were shot off in downtown Ottawa and shattered the window of the condo that I live in.”
She calls last year’s occupation a crisis and challenge, while at the same time acted as a reminder to ensure all levels of government work in sync.
“Ideally we would have had better support from the Province of Ontario, that there would have been faster action as you heard from many different kinds of testimonies from all levels of policing. But at the end of the day the government felt we had to take action to protect the safety of people in the Ottawa region.”
Hajdu adds the discovery of explosives at other occupation sites in Canada, and the disregard for the rule of law in Ottawa, as serious concerns to national security.
