The Prime Minister is again mounted in the niche on Wednesday, demanding the end of the blockages, which extend and threaten the economy. The Ottawa police threatens more.
Le Monde with AFP
The situation is stretched in Canada, where anti-sanitary protests have been blocking the streets of the capital Ottawa for almost two weeks. “The blockages, the illegal events are unacceptable” and have “a negative impact for our businesses, our manufacturers,” lamented, Wednesday, February 9, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in front of the deputies. “We have to do everything to stop it”, hammered the leader of the government, however, offering no way of political crisis exit while in the streets of Ottawa, the tension is mounted by a notch.
For the first time, the police addressed a message by communiqué to the protesters, informing them that they could now be arrested. Tuesday, the police had reported twenty-three arrests since the beginning of the movement. “We are noticing that anyone blocks the streets or helps others to block them can be pursued” and “is likely to be arrested,” said the police, stating that vehicles could also be seized.
Blocked bridge at the American border
In addition to the streets of the Ottawa Federal Capital, road drivers and their supports want to hit the economy by paralyzing some essential tralls. The blockage, from Monday, from the Ambassador Bridge at the border with the United States worries authorities and economic backgrounds, because if Ottawa is a strong symbol, it is not an economic capital.
This suspension bridge, which connects Ontario to Detroit, the United States, is crucial for the automotive industry but also for US hospitals that employ many Canadian nurses. “Blocking endangers supply chains, the automotive industry, because this bridge is a key channel,” said White House Jen Psaki spokesman.
Nearly 2.5 million trucks take the Ambassador Bridge each year. More than 25% of goods exported between the United States and Canada transit there. According to the Government of Canada, nearly 5,000 plant workers located in Windsor, Canadian city nestled near Detroit, were returned home because “criminal actions” of protesters.
“When this type of blockade is a brake for economic growth, the production of goods … The federal government must intervene,” said Gilles Levasseur, Professor of Economics at the University of Ottawa. “At present, we do not see the political will to go in this direction to actually face the blockade,” he adds.
“Canadian border blockages threaten fragile supply chains that are already under pressure due to pandemic shortages and delays”, sentenced to AFP Brian Kingston, President of the Canadian Association of Canada. Vehicle builders, requiring the end of protests.
“Abandon of all restrictions”
In the streets of Ottawa, some 400 heavyweights were always installed on the parliamentary hill and under the offices of Justin Trudeau, without intention to leave. Protesters came out of the barbecues on the street, others play football. Fuel cans, which serve to refuel the trucks continuously, are arranged here and there. And a helicopter of the federal police flies over, found a reporter from AFP.
Originally baptized “Convoy of Freedom”, this Canadian movement was originally intended to protest the decision to force truckers to be vaccinated to cross the border with the United States. But it quickly turned into motion against sanitary measures as a whole and against the government. Since then, he has been oil stain abroad: Canadian protesters have become the new heroes of the Conservatives and opponents of restrictions, who call for amplifying the mobilization, New York to New Zealand, through the France.