Three weeks of anti-vaccine protests that rocked Canada have come to an end, stopped in their tracks by a never-before-used law that gave the federal government sweeping powers to declare the demonstrations illegal and to hit members of the so-called Freedom Convoy where it hurt — their wallets.
While the government was successful in ending the occupation of Ottawa and the border blockades, the length they went to, including freezing the bank accounts of some of the protesters, has concerned many.
“It's a very disconcerting precedent,” said Aaron Wudrick, director of the domestic policy programme at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa. “I think it's going to do tremendous damage to trust in our institutions.”
On Sunday, Conservative MP Mark Strahl tweeted that he knew someone who had donated only $50 to the freedom convoy and had their bank account subsequently frozen.
“Briane is a single mum from Chilliwack working a minimum wage job. She gave $50 to the convoy when it was 100 per cent legal. She hasn’t participated in any other way. Her bank account has now been frozen. This is who Justin Trudeau is actually targeting with his Emergencies Act orders,” Mr Strahl tweeted.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have disputed Mr Strahl's claims, saying “at no time did we provide a list of donors to financial institutions".
While the MP’s claims may be unsubstantiated, Mr Wudrick said that under the Emergencies Act, the government is allowed to freeze any donor’s account.
But the government should instruct banks to only go after people who have donated more than a certain amount of money, he said.
“That's a very simple way to limit the scope of the order and they haven't done it and that is what is very frustrating,” Mr Wudrick told The National.
The RCMP said authorities have taken action against 219 bank accounts and financial products so far, belonging to a total of 57 people or entities. A little less than $4 million has been frozen.
Under the Emergencies Act, the special powers granted to the government will expire 30 days after the act was invoked — unless the government chooses to extend them.
On Monday, Parliament voted 185-151 in favour of the law. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters: “This state of emergency is not over. There continue to be real concerns about the coming days.”
Mr Wudrick said he hopes the government “does not wait 30 days” before revoking the act, saying it should be a question of “days not weeks".
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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