Posted on 02/14/2022 5:44:17 PM PST by lightman
OTTAWA—Freedom Convoy organizers say they will continue to protest on Parliament Hill despite the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency.
“We are not afraid. In fact, every time the government decides to further suspend our civil liberties, our resolve strengthens and the importance of our mission becomes clearer,” organizer Tamara Lich said on Feb. 14 in anticipation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act over the protests demanding an end to COVID-19 mandates.
“We will remain peaceful, but planted on Parliament Hill until the mandates are decisively ended. We recognize that there is a democratic process within which change occurs. We have never stepped outside of that process, nor do we intend to.”
Trudeau is the first prime minister to use the Emergencies Act. The act replaces the War Measures Act, which was last used by Trudeau’s father, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau, in 1970 during the October Crisis when Quebec separatists kidnapped and killed Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte.
The act gives the state additional powers to deal with the protests and blockades, such as providing legal tools to cut funding to protesters, as well as freezing the corporate accounts of companies whose trucks are used in any blockades and removing their insurance.
The province of Ontario and the city of Ottawa have also declared states of emergency over the protests.
The protests were initiated by truck drivers opposed to COVID-19 vaccination mandates for cross-border travel. As convoys of truckers made their to Ottawa, many supporters joined the movement, which turned into a large-scale protest against all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Many protesters who converged into Ottawa on Jan. 29 say they intend to stay in the capital until COVID-19 mandates are lifted.
Separately, protest convoys set up blockades at border crossings in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit, which accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars in trade between Canada and the United States, was cleared over the weekend.
“The Emergencies Act will be used to strengthen and support law enforcement agencies at all levels across the country. This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting people’s jobs, and restoring confidence in our institutions,” Trudeau said.
“The police will be given more tools to restore order in places where public assemblies can constitute illegal and dangerous activities such as blockades and occupations as seen in Ottawa, Ambassador Bridge, and elsewhere.”
Lich said Canadians “should be surprised” that such “an extreme measure” is being used against peaceful protesters.
“We have countless vulnerable people in our crowd, including children, the elderly, and the disabled, who cannot be met with force by a genuine liberal democracy. The right to peaceful protest is sacrosanct to our nation. If that principle is abandoned, the government will reveal itself as a true tyranny and it will lose all of its credibility,” she said.
Lich said she realizes some people are opposed to the protests, but noted that a democratic society “will always have non-trivial disagreements and righteous dissidents.”
“There are many reasons for us opposing the mandates,” she said. “Some of us have been mistreated by our government, including many of our indigenous communities, who have personally experienced medical malpractice. Some of us simply want bodily autonomy and oppose the mandates on principled grounds. No matter our reasons and opinions, it is how the government responds to its citizens that determines the fate of the country.”
Addressing the prime minister, Lich said, “No matter what you do, we will hold the line.”
“There are no threats that will frighten us.”
Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland who is acting as a spokesperson for the Freedom Convoy, said this is “a very, very strange moment in our history.”
“This is again government overreach. We don’t do these kinds of things in Canada. We engage in dialogue,” Peckford said.
“It’s my understanding that the government of Canada has not reached out once to the truckers since they have arrived in this capital city. I find that very hard to understand, because how can you justify going to a measure like an emergency, measures where a lot of powers can be imposed upon the citizens, when you have not even yourself taken any action to engage.”
Justin Fidelovich
I’ve often wondered why some politician down the line has never suggested UNITING our entire Continent; USA, Canada & Mexico.
Man, Oh, MAN! What a powerhouse that could be!
Of course, a SOCIALIST would have come up with that LONG before a Conservative would have, and ground us ALL to dust, so I guess I’ll shut up now before I give anyone a new idea. ;)
However, let the record state: I am all for cheaper, quality Avocados and Maple Syrup! ;)
There was a motion to end mandates today in Parliament it went down 185-151.
I could be wrong, but I think that is because this has not escalated to a nationwide strike and the protestors are a minority of the truckers. They have effectively instituted local trucking strikes where they have been able to block trucking, but the majority of truckers are still driving and delivering. I believe that they are mostly in solidarity with the protestors, but the blockages are being used, now, to locally halt trucking without putting their jobs at risk.
The truckers in Ottowa are laying down the sacrifice. They are in Trudeau’s face. I think they have to stay until they either succeed, or demonstrate that a nationwide strike is justified and needed.
“So. as I see it, Elizibeth II herself would have to instruct the GG (Mary Simon) to sack the PM, and dissolve Parlaiment, then call new elections. “
Yes.
And that’s not going to happen.
It’s weird, the UK is really a lawless state.
Between Countries? How about between Provinces or states?
The US and Canada most likely have same infection rate, vaccination rate etc.
How does a vax passport between the 2 countries reduce a viral infection rate more so than a vax passport to travel across state boundaries?
“Make America/Canada Great Again” has taken on a whole new meaning…
“Our anti virus laws are better than yours…nana nana poopie”
“There was a motion to end mandates today in Parliament it went down 185-151.”
Thanks for the info.
They have to keep at it.
That’s a number that shows it’s doable.
“These are exceptionally brave Patriots, and I pray they will be joined by thousands of others.”
Yes they are. I pray they will be joined by other brave souls as well. It’s not easy to make that overwhelming a sacrifice, but they are.
Their rules make no sense.
The people are finally saying the emperor has no clothes.
They have. It's called the GREAT RESET or better known as the One World Government.
Leftists and Globalists don’t even realize they promote what they advocate being against.
International free trade…let’s implement independent across border health restrictions
Segregation is racist…we need to treat racial minorities separately. Maybe we start up black only colleges/schools
I wish I had half their courage and determination. I sit comfortably on the side line cheering for them. But unlike them, I have put nothing at risk. Kind of embarrassing.
Trucks break down. Can they fine a trucker for getting a flat or running out of gas?
The Liberals and NDP held the line they support the government one defector from the Liberals with the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois in the minority.
There will be many paid sick days in the near future.
I live in Alberta…and there might even be an oilfield trucker strike.
Alberta has the ability to shut down most of the Country and much of the US.
Unlike Biden who shut down much of the US’ oil production and helped finance Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s border
“It’s my understanding that the government of Canada has not reached out once to the truckers since they have arrived in this capital city.
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The ruling class hates the working class and it especially hates it when it won’t do as they command.
That vote was only on the federal mandates.
The vote on the Emergencies Act will be much different, IMO
Could be wrong, but I believe many will vote for the mandates but won’t be willing to vote for martial law to enforce them.
I hope there isn’t a Tiananmen Square in Ottowa.
The state has abdicated its legitimacy in any violent approach to ending this. When Occupy Wall Street protestors camped on public property for months on end, they were allowed to do so. When IdleNoMore and anti-pipeline protestors blockaded rail lines and bridges, the police did nothing. But when truckers and farmers do so — demanding only a return of their fundamental freedoms — they are vilified by the government-funded media as “racists”, “terrorists”, and agents of Russia.-PJAny claim by the government-funded media and the state that these protestors have no right to be there is abrogated by their previous acceptance and even support for other causes doing just the same thing.
Instead of dealing with the truckers as peacefully and understandingly as leftist protests that camped in public spaces, Trudeau has decided to declare martial law.
Amen!
These are brave people!
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