CANADIAN banks froze US$6.1 million in over 200 accounts under emergency powers meant to end protests in Ottawa and at key border crossings, reports Bloomberg News.
The new total was revealed to lawmakers examining Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to invoke the country's Emergencies Act to end a three-week occupation of the nation's capital.
Mr Trudeau and his ministers declared the measures are meant to cut off funding to protest leaders and to pressure trucking companies to prevent their semis from being used again in blockades.
Ottawa's downtown core was cleared out recently, but dozens of trucks remain gathered at encampments outside the city.
Assistant Deputy Minister Isabelle Jacques declared it's 'possible although very unlikely' that small donors to the convoy have seen their accounts frozen since law enforcement agencies have focused on those directly responsible for the protests.
Ms Jacques declared banks have informed the government they've started to unfreeze the funds, adding that financial institutions are responsible for conducting their own reviews based on information from police.
'I would think that the vast majority of accounts are in the process of being unfrozen,' said Ms Jacques.
SeaNews Turkey
The new total was revealed to lawmakers examining Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to invoke the country's Emergencies Act to end a three-week occupation of the nation's capital.
Mr Trudeau and his ministers declared the measures are meant to cut off funding to protest leaders and to pressure trucking companies to prevent their semis from being used again in blockades.
Ottawa's downtown core was cleared out recently, but dozens of trucks remain gathered at encampments outside the city.
Assistant Deputy Minister Isabelle Jacques declared it's 'possible although very unlikely' that small donors to the convoy have seen their accounts frozen since law enforcement agencies have focused on those directly responsible for the protests.
Ms Jacques declared banks have informed the government they've started to unfreeze the funds, adding that financial institutions are responsible for conducting their own reviews based on information from police.
'I would think that the vast majority of accounts are in the process of being unfrozen,' said Ms Jacques.
SeaNews Turkey
