Dozens of bank accounts have been frozen since the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Feb. 19. “At least 76” accounts have been frozen, which represents $3.2 million, associated with the ongoing protest in Ottawa opposing the federal government’s COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, Mendicino said in a virtual press conference. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to give authorities sweeping additional powers to oust the protesters encamped in Ottawa’s downtown core. Several financial measures were also brought in to reduce funding for the protests, such as allowing banks to freeze accounts of individuals or corporations involved in the protests. The government also broadened the anti-money laundering mechanisms to require crowdfunding platforms to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). “Additionally, FINTRAC’s pre-registration process is ongoing and it is working with small- and medium-sized banks …
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