In Canada, a trucker convoy is demonstrating against existing corona measures. Now Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (50) wants to intervene. If the demonstrators against the government’s corona measures didn’t go home, there would be “increasing police intervention,” Trudeau said in Ottawa on Friday, calling the blockades “illegal.” Any measure is possible, but the deployment of the military is the last resort.
“I can’t say much more about exactly when or how this will end now because we are concerned about violence,” Trudeau added. After a phone call with US President Joe Biden (79), he also made it clear that an important, blocked border bridge between the city of Windsor and Detroit in the USA would not remain closed for much longer. Trudeau appealed to the demonstrators: “We heard you, it’s time to go home.”
Trucker protest has been going on for weeks
Thousands of people have been demonstrating in Canada against corona measures and vaccination regulations for weeks. With trucks and other vehicles, they blocked, among other things, parts of downtown Ottawa.
The protests initially focused on vaccination requirements for truck drivers and then on government pandemic restrictions overall. In January, a regulation came into effect requiring truck drivers returning from the United States to also present proof of vaccination.
There is a risk of a fine of 70,000 euros – or a year in prison
The province of Ontario declared a state of emergency on Friday. Local Prime Minister Doug Ford announced measures against the protesters, including fines of up to 70,000 euros and a maximum of one year in prison. In addition, truck drivers’ licenses could be revoked. Emergency services would be deployed to protect important roads, airports, ports and other infrastructure facilities.
According to Trudeau, the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit – as well as other border crossings – led to the halt of car production by six manufacturers due to missing parts. 25 percent of the Canadian-American freight traffic flows over the bridge – this corresponds to a goods value of the equivalent of 275 million euros per day. The region is closely interwoven economically across the border.
Blockades should be removed because of “people’s safety”.
That is why Trudeau also spoke to US President Biden on Friday: “President Biden and I both agree that these blockades cannot be continued for reasons of human and economic security,” the head of government continued. The White House made a similar statement. According to Trudeau, the protesters, many of whom are right-wing, are supported by donations, about 50 percent of which come from the United States.
Large parts of the population had supported Trudeau’s sometimes very strict anti-Covid course over the past two years. However, the latest studies indicate a possible trend reversal, even if the picture is not yet clear.
Some supporters of the 50-year-old also perceived the rampant omicron variant as exaggerated, such as new travel restrictions and the closures of bars and restaurants ordered by local governments. (SDA)