The mayor of Canada’s capital declared a state of emergency on Sunday and a former US ambassador to Canada said groups in the US should stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America’s neighbour. Protesters protest against COVID-19 restrictions Paralyzed the city of Ottawa.
Mayor Jim Watson said the announcement highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. This gives the city some additional powers around procurement and how it provides services, which can help procure essential equipment for frontline workers and first responders.
Thousands of protesters descended on Ottawa again over the weekend, joining the hundred formed from last weekend. Residents of Ottawa are angered by the constant honking, traffic disruptions and harassment and there seems to be no end in sight after the police chief called it a “siege” that he could not manage.
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The “freedom truck convoy” has attracted the support of many US Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far leftist” who “destroyed Canada with a crazy COVID mandate.”
People gather to protest against the COVID-19 mandate and the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa (Image: AP)
“Canada-US relations used to be primarily about resolving technical issues. Canada today unfortunately faces radical American politicians who involve themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not only to America but to all democracies,” tweeted Bruce Heyman, former US ambassador under President Barack Obama.
“Under no circumstances should any group in the United States fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop,” Heyman said.
After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would back or redirect the vast majority of millions of people protesting in Canada’s capital to charity, Florida Gov.
But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would issue refunds to everyone. The site said it deducted funding for the organizers after it determined the illegal activity was caused by an attempt to violate the site’s terms of service.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it a profession.
A protester in support of masks and vaccines makes his way through a demonstration in support of a trucker convoy in Ottawa, protesting the COVID-19 restrictions at Queens Park in Toronto (Image: AP)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted: “Patriot Texans donated to a worthy cause of Canadian truckers.” And Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said on Fox News, “the government doesn’t have the authority to force you to follow their arbitrary mandate.”
Gerald Butts, a former senior adviser to Trudeau, tweeted: “For some senior American politicians, patriotism means hiring a mob to surround the G-7 capital.”
In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, police controlled and later ended much smaller protests by setting up road blocks to stop any trucks or cars near the provincial legislature. The police also evacuated a major square in the city.
Many Canadians have been outraged On the abusive behavior of the protesters. Some protesters set off fireworks on the grounds of the National War Memorial late Friday. Over the past weekend many people have carried signs and flags with swastikas and compared the vaccine mandate to fascism.
The protesters have said they will not leave until all mandates and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. They are also calling for the removal of Trudeau’s government, although it has accounted for some of the measures, most of which were implemented by provincial governments.
Watch: Canada: Jagmeet Singh of NDP condemns truck driver’s convoy