While isolating with COVID-19, along with two of his children, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come out with his strongest words yet about the protesters who have taken to the streets of downtown Ottawa.
The group has been on Parliament Hill for the past three days and are calling for an end to COVID-19 restrictions and mandatory vaccinations.
While an estimated tens of thousands of truckers and supporters have been rallying in Ottawa, others remain on the roads delivering essential goods across the country.
Police have called the rally in the nation’s capital “peaceful” but Trudeau has voiced strong condemnation for those who took part in hateful and criminal actions.
“We won’t give in to those who fly racist flags. We won’t cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonour the memory of our veterans,” said Trudeau.
There were symbols of anti-semitism and hate, like the confederate flag. The chief of police says hate crimes will be investigated.
“Within the next 24 hours, we are going to be creating a hotline for hate incidents, hate crimes, any offenses directly related to the demonstrations,” said Chief Peter Sloly.
There was vandalism to the Terry Fox statue and someone was seen jumping on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While police say thousands were peaceful and there were no reports of violence, Trudeau said he believes the views of many are a continuation of misinformation online.
Ottawa correspondent Chris Guly says some ralliers are showing no signs of clearing out prompting concerns from residents. “Reported incidents of demonstrators defecating and urinating in snowbanks in front of their houses. Horns honking through the night. People are at their wit’s end,” said Guly.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says the massive policing effort is costing the city $800,000 a day. Officers are now escorting paramedics downtown after the service said protestors threw rocks at ambulances.
Meanwhile, businesses have been forced to shut their doors. “Businesses and organizations have been subjected to harassment. These threats and disruptions have been debilitating financially and to staff,” said Watson.
In a statement, Premier Doug Ford tells CHCH News the right to a peaceful protest is core to our Canadian identity. “I was extremely disturbed, however, to see some individuals desecrate our most sacred monuments and wave swastikas and other symbols of hate and intolerance this weekend. That has no place in Ontario or Canada. Not now. not ever,” said Ford.
Trudeau is calling on members of the convoy and other politicians who have been supporting the rally to condemn it as well. “To the politicians exploiting fears, I ask you to think long and hard about the consequences of your actions,” he said.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole met with truckers over the weekend and then condemned the desecration of the National War Memorial. On Monday, he called on Trudeau to hear the protestors out.
Trudeau has made it clear that he will not speak with the protestors and that mandatory vaccinations will not be dropped. With 90 per cent fully vaccinated, the transport minister said the mandate for cross-border truckers has not had an impact on the supply chain.
