Saturday, January 29, 2022

Trudeau, MPs denounce Freedom Convoy

‘Fringe minority’ in truck convoy with ‘unacceptable views’ don’t represent Canadians: Trudeau | Global TV - Rachel Gilmore:

January 26, 2022 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the 'fringe minority' heading to Ottawa in a truck convoy that hold 'unacceptable views' don’t represent the way most Canadians feel. He made the comments in a press conference Wednesday evening, on the heels of Global News reports that far-right and white nationalist groups see the convoy as an opportunity. 'The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians,' Trudeau said. '(Canadians) who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country.'"
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/8539610/trucker-convoy-covid-vaccine-mandates-ottawa/

MPs worry anti-vaxxer convoy has taken a turn for the worse | Canada's National Observer - Natasha Bulowski:

January 28, 2022 - "A convoy of truckers is en route to Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates, but some politicians say the protest has taken on a life of its own and are concerned about possible violence on Saturday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he is 'concerned by extremist elements that are spreading misinformation and attempting to turn the convoy into a Canadian version of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Capitol,' in a statement released Thursday....

"'Individuals have the right to safely and peacefully protest,' said Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi in a statement to Canada’s National Observer. 'But from what we know about the protest that’s coming this weekend, it appears that some members of the group may be associated with racist, sexist, and xenophobic groups.' The Liberal MP said his community 'will not tolerate hate and vitriol and other acts of racism and violence'....

"'Every Canadian should have the ability to make their voice heard, but there is also a very real concern about the threat of violence,' said NDP MP Taylor Bachrach. 'The fact that we're hearing these kinds of deeply troubling messages is something I think all Canadians should be concerned about'....

"Last weekend, People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier organized a rally in Waterloo, Ont., to support the cross-border truckers' movement and continuously tweets support for and information about the convoy.... Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole ... broke his silence Tuesday evening in a Facebook Live event when he said he understands why many truckers, especially independent ones, are upset.... Former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer tweeted his support for unvaccinated truckers and said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 'threatening everyone's ability to get groceries because of his overreach on vaccine mandates.' Earlier this week, MP Garnett Genuis tweeted it is 'time to end Justin Trudeau’s nonsensical vaccine vendetta'.... Alberta MP Martin Shields recorded a video in front of Parliament Hill declaring his support for the truckers and their protest. 'I support peaceful demonstrations against these mandates,' a statement from the Conservatives’ deputy leader Candice Bergen reads....

"On Tuesday, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra ... [told] Canadians the small minority of truck drivers refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate has not affected trucking operations. Bachrach, the NDP’s transport critic, echoed Alghabra’s message and added extreme weather events across the country have contributed to the few empty shelves reported at grocery stores."
Read more: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/01/28/news/mps-worry-anti-vaxxer-convoy-has-taken-turn-worse

Trudeau concerned trucker convoy converging on Parliament Hill could turn violent | CTV News - Canadian Press:

January 28, 2022 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's concerned about the potential for violence during this weekend's planned protest on Parliament Hill by truckers and others joining the crowd to vent their anger about public health restrictions to combat COVID-19.... The so-called 'freedom convoy' has been billed as a protest against the federally imposed vaccine mandate on cross-border truckers, even though planning for the event began before the policy was established. While key organizers have said violence won't be tolerated, far-right extremists and white nationalists have latched onto it, with some calling for 'bullets' or a 'massive revolution' or a riot akin to the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol a year ago....

"Trudeau ... noted that the protesters use the appealing rallying cry of 'freedom.' But he said: 'The most important freedom is freedom for Canadians who are doing the right things to be able to get through and beyond this pandemic... And the way to do that is to trust in science, to follow public health rules and to get vaccinated. That's what standing up for rights and freedoms (looks like)'.... He slammed Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole for 'putting forward as his priority accommodating the unvaccinated.' 

"O'Toole, who intends to meet with some of the truckers, has called for calm and a peaceful protest. He has also denounced people involved in the convoy who are espousing racist and extremist ideas. But he has not called out any of his MPs, including deputy leader Candice Bergen, predecessor Andrew Scheer and finance critic Pierre Poilievre, who have given full-throated support to the convoy and joined in accusing Trudeau of being a threat to Canadians' liberty."

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-concerned-trucker-convoy-converging-on-parliament-hill-could-turn-violent-1.5758849

Candice Malcolm & Harrison Faulkner, "The legacy media desperately wants the trucker convoy to be Canada’s January 6th." True North, January 28, 2022:

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