Tone-deaf Trudeau says trucker protest poses threat to 'democracy'

RT
Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:58 UTC

© The Tyee/The Post Millennial

Canadian PM argues protesters against Covid-19 restrictions must stop as they are disrupting the lives of fellow citizens

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has claimed the truckers who continue to protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Ottawa are trying to "blockade" democracy and harass locals with "violent" imagery.

During a speech in Canada's House of Commons on Monday - which has been surrounded by protesters since January 28 - Trudeau argued that demonstrators against Covid-19 restrictions pose a dangerous threat to the public as well as the state, just one day after the city of Ottawa declared a state of emergency.

"Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens' daily lives. It has to stop," Trudeau declared, adding that "the people of Ottawa don't deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods."

Comment: Apparently the two-year blockade of the trucker families' daily lives is not an issue.

In an apparent reference to isolated incidents involving hate symbols, including neo-Nazi paraphernalia, spotted at the protest, Trudeau said the people of Ottawa "don't deserve to be confronted with the inherent violence of a swastika flying on a street corner, or a Confederate flag, or the insults and jeers just because they're wearing a mask."

Comment: Canadian trucker convoy protesters confront masked man with Confederate flag, tell him to leave

"That's not who Canadians are. That's not what Canadians demonstrated over the past two years of consistently, continually being there for each other," he continued. "The people of Ottawa - indeed people across the country - deserve to have their safety respected and deserve to get their lives back."

Comment: Indeed they have. And the support provided shows where Canadians' sympathies lie. It's not with the ideologically isolated, snowflake elitists inhabiting the Ottawa government town bubble.

Canadians support Freedom Convoy with food, gas, and rides: 'nothing but caring, sharing, and giving'

The prime minister revealed that 300 Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been deployed to assist Ottawa Police against the protesters and that the government would be "convening a table with the relevant federal and municipal partners to further strengthen our response."

The federal government will be there with whatever resources the province and the city need in this situation

On Sunday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency and called the protest a "serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents."

Ottawa Police have also been working to shut the protest down, issuing over 100 tickets to truckers in the city, suspending licenses, and seizing fuel, while also threatening to arrest anyone who provides the protesters with "material support."

While interviewing protesters in Ottawa on Monday, RT America's John Huddy observed that the demonstration looked more like a winter carnival than an 'occupation', with inflatable castles for children, dancing, and music.

Comment: City official's attempts to shut down the protest have begun:

A judge in Ottawa has issued a 10-day injunction order for some parts of the Canadian capital, which requires truckers not to use their horns as an act of protest. This will not infringe on their right to protest against mandatory vaccination against Covid-19, Justice Hugh McLean decided.

The ruling applies to all hours and was placed into force for the zone north of the Queensway. It authorizes police to arrest anyone they believe to be aware of the injunction and be witnessed violating it. The rule will remain in place until at least February 16, when the court is to convene again after a period of adjournment to further discuss the issue.

The motion to ban honking came out from a proposed class-action lawsuit filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice last week by public servant Zexi Li. She seeks Can$9.8 million (US$7.7 million) in damages for emotional and mental distress allegedly caused to her and other potential plaintiffs by the so-called Freedom convoy. Protesting truckers are honking 12 to 16 hours a day, making residents in downtown Ottawa a living hell, the filing argued.

A lawyer representing three protest organizers argued at the Monday hearing that the convoy is a grassroots movement and that many people in Ottawa "don't feel they're being harmed and this is part of the democratic process," contrary to what the other side said. The judge was not convinced by his reasoning.

The anti-mandate protest has paralyzed the area around Ottawa's Parliament Hill. On Sunday, the city declared a state of emergency, ramping up the police crackdown on the demonstrators.

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