Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come out strongly condemning the behaviour displayed by some participants in the trucker convoy protests that continue in downtown Ottawa, saying he and the government will not be intimidated by them and indicating no plans to engage with the demonstrators.
“Over the past few days, Canadians were shocked and frankly, disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people protesting in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said during a national address from the National Capital Region.
Downtown Ottawa remains beset by protesters, vehicles and transport trucks, as the “freedom convoy” demonstration presses on, now into its third full day.
“I want to be very clear, we are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small business workers, and steal food from the homeless. We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans,” he said, referencing some of what’s transpired over the last few days.
“There is no place in our country for threats, violence, or hatred, so to those responsible for this behavior: it needs to stop,” Trudeau said.
Protesters have spent the weekend calling for the removal of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions. Many participants have expressed outrage at the prime minster and a desire to see him removed from office.
While the protest has largely been non-violent, Ottawa Police said Sunday that they have seen “multiple cases of disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behaviour from demonstrators.” Police are also conducting “several” criminal investigations in relation to acts described by police as “desecration” to several monuments.
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While Trudeau will be taking part virtually given he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, some members of Parliament have arrived to the House of Commons for the first sitting day of the year.
Business got underway in the chamber at 11 a.m. without incident, and with many MPs still participating virtually through the hybrid sitting format. The House of Commons made the decision Sunday that the start of the winter sitting would go ahead as planned despite the elevated security risk to MPs.
Trudeau thanked the security forces and police for their work this weekend, the health-care workers who are watching what’s gone on, and the nearly 90 per cent of truckers who are fully vaccinated.
“The behavior on display this weekend does not represent you,” he said.
The Sergeant-at-Arms sent MPs a memo late Sunday night detailing how those attending in-person can access the House of Commons precinct, recognizing that the ongoing demonstrations “could make it difficult.” MPs were given suggested routes, and told that there continues to be an increased presence of Ottawa police and the Parliamentary Protective Service in the area.
“There is a right to protest, there is a right to make your voices heard loudly and clearly. There is not a right to shut down our democracy, our democratic processes. There is not a right to abuse, intimidate and harass your fellow citizens who are trying to gxjmtzywo about their business, trying to live their lives, and [are] not necessarily in agreement with what you are doing,” Trudeau said.
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While one lane of Wellington Street directly in front of Parliament Hill was cleared as of Monday morning, most of the downtown core remains gridlocked. Trucks are honking continuously and supporters are mulling about. Organizers have shrugged off the condemnations of their presence and have declared plans to stay in town indefinitely.
MPS REACT, CONVOY TO COME UP IN QP
Trudeau will be taking part in question period shortly, where the weekend’s events are set to come up. MPs that CTV News spoke with on their way up to the Hill expressed mixed views about the unprecedented situation.
“I get the frustration, but for a convoy that says it’s about freedom, there are a lot of good people who aren’t really feeling freedom this morning,” said Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on his way into work.
“There’s police enforcement here that is very visible and they’re taking appropriate actions as circumstances dictate,” he said.
The Conservative party is largely supporting the trucking convoy, while condemning the examples of hateful symbols at the rally over the weekend. That has included signs and flags with Nazi imagery, the Confederate flag, yellow stars, patches or clothing that belong to groups with extremist views.
Several Conservative MPs took part in this weekend’s demonstrations and they are expected to raise the cause in the Commons on Monday, after Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole suggested that the temperature and division needs to be cooled.
On his way into West Block, Conservative MP Scott Aitchison said that the “real frustration” that Canadians feel should not be ignored, and if it is, it would be at the government’s “peril,” electorally.
“I think it’s a delicate balance. I think that every member of our caucus who has, you know, been down there to speak to folks have worked really hard to make sure that they’re making the distinction that they are in support of peaceful protest, that they’re not in support of the more radical elements and they’ve, you know, called that out,” Aitchison said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday that the behaviour seen in Ottawa this weekend was “wrong.”
“The impact on people, the people of Ottawa particularly, is absolutely wrong. And the solidarity that people have shown throughout this pandemic is something that gives me a lot of hope and a lot of pride,” Singh said.
After a weekend of crowds of thousands clogging streets in downtown Ottawa, the advice to locals remains to stay away given the security concerns.
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
Smoke floats in the air as people gather on Parliament Hill during a rally against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill is seen on a television screen in a media room in Ottawa, on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A man who removed the tires from a pickup truck stands in front of West Block on Parliament Hill as a rally against COVID-19 restrictions, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Monday, January 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
