Trudeau invokes rare emergency powers in attempt to quell protests

Emergencies Act gives government broad powers for 30 days, but prime minister is not expected to call in the military

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has invoked legislation that gives his government sweeping powers to fight a growing number of illegal and dangerous" blockades across the country.

The first prime minister to invoke the Emergencies Act, Trudeau said the measures would be time-limited and only apply to specific geographic regions. We are not preventing the right of people to protest legally," he said, adding that the military would not be deployed. The act is to be used sparingly and as a last resort."