OTTAWA, Ontario (CU)_Thousands of protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions descended in the capital city of Canada once again over the weekend, joining a hundred of other demonstrators who have remained since last weekend. Their nonstop blaring of horns, traffic disruptions and harassment has left residents of Ottawa furious, with the police chief called it a “siege” which he could not manage.
Accordingly, a state of emergency was declared by the mayor of the city, giving the city additional powers in relation to procurement and how it delivers services, which would assist in the purchasing of equipment for frontline workers and first responders. According to Mayor Jim Watson, the declaration underscored the need for support from other local jurisdictions and levels of government.
The demonstrations, titled ‘The freedom truck convoy’, has attracted the support of many Republicans in neighbouring United States, including former US President Donald Trump, who called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far left lunatic” who has destroyed the country with “insane COVID mandates”.
Against this backdrop, a former US ambassador called on groups in US to stop interfering in the domestic affairs of Canada “Canada US relations used to be mainly about solving technical issues. Today Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical US politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues. Trump and his followers are a threat not just to the US but to all democracies,” Bruce Heyman, the United States Ambassador to Canada under former President Barack Obama, tweeted. “Under no circumstances should any group in the USA fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Full stop,” he said in another tweet.
Meanwhile in Toronto, the largest city of Canada, the police managed to control and end a much smaller protest by using road blocks to prevent trucks and cars from reaching near the provincial legislature. The law enforcement officers also moved in to clear a key intersection in the city.
