Federal Court of Appeal to Rule on Emergencies Act Use

The Federal Court of Appeal will render its ruling Friday morning (Jan 16 2026, 11 a.m. ET) on whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2022 invocation of the Emergencies Act was lawful. The 2024 Federal Court decision by Justice Richard Mosley found the act's use unreasonable, citing no national emergency and violations of Charter rights. The government appealed, arguing the convoy‑led blockades, including the Windsor‑Onslow border, posed a serious security threat and justified extraordinary police powers. A 2023 inquiry led by Justice Paul Rouleau concluded the threshold was met, citing police failures and a “very high” threat level. The appeal will weigh Mosley’s hindsight, the public order emergency definition, and the CSIS and federal police findings.