Ottawa mayor condemns desecration of National War Memorial, Terry Fox statue
As the truckers’ convoy that descended on Ottawa a few days ago shows no sign of departing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he has tested positive for Covid-19.
“This morning, I tested positive for Covid-19,” he tweeted. “I’m feeling fine – and I’ll continue to work remotely this week while following public health guidelines. Everyone, please get vaccinated and get boosted.”
The news comes as ultra-wealthy tech billionaire and on-off Covid-19 skeptic Elon Musk has praised the convoy of truckers bringing the Canadian capital of Ottawa to a standstill over vaccine mandates, describing them as their country’s new government.
“If the government had the mandate of the people,” he tweeted, “there would be a significant counter-protest. There is not, therefore they do not.”
BJ Dichter, one of the organisers behind a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $8 million to support the convoy, said on Sunday their aim is create a “logistics nightmare” for the Canadian government and force it to repeal its vaccine mandates.
“Right now, yeah, it’s really cold, but we hang in there, the days are going to get longer and we take this block party and put it into overdrive,” he said at a press conference.
Meanwhile Ottawa police say they have launched multiple investigations into the ‘desecration’ of monuments by the Freedom Convoy protesters and of ‘illegal’ behaviour.
Justin Trudeau tests positive for Covid-19
As he shelters in a secure location with his family during the anti-mandate protests, Justin Trudeau has shared the news of a positive Covid-19 diagnosis.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 15:10
Sean O’Grady writes that for all their talk of “freedom”, the truckers locking up Ottawa with their protest are not, in fact, upholding everyone’s rights in the way they claim…
The Freedom Convoy may have had some romantic, folksy appeal to Canadians when it got going, but if the Freedom Convoy does spiral into disorder and violence, it will end up alienating decent peace-loving Canadians and actually strengthening the case for vaccine mandates, purely out of a sense of disgust at the lawlessness.
In an ironic way, the Ottawa protest, like 6 January Capitol riot, may soon come to be seen as a symbol of a selfish minority seeking to impose its will and on the majority – the Anti-Freedom Convoy.
Read the full article below.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 15:05
How do Ottawans feel?
Toronto Star journalist Althia Raj reports on the mayor of Ottawa’s latest description of the atmosphere in the city:
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 14:40
Police say the protest is costing them $800k/day
In a statement, the Ottawa Police have explained how financially draining the cost of policing the truckers’ protest has become – while also saying they “have avoided ticketing and towing” illegally parked vehicles “so as not to instigate confrontations with demonstrators”.
This last point has not been greeted well by those pointing out racial inequities in policing practice.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 14:15
Truckers’ civil rights comparisons make onlookers “sick”
The Independent’s Eric Garcia remarks on the spectacle of anti-mandate protesters comparing themselves to the US’s civil rights heroes of decades past.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 13:50
Satellite images show size of weekend’s protest
Aerial footage has given a new sense of the scale of what the assembly in Ottawa over the weekend, which saw the city beset by traffic delays and incessant honking as well as organised violations of Covid-19 rules.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 13:20
Organisers call for hundreds of ‘maskless shoppers’ as protest continues
According to a roundup from CTV News, police are anticipating at least a further 24 hours of disruption to daily live in downtown Ottawa after one organizer yesterday told a crowd that “We are not leaving until you can open up your businesses, we are not leaving until you can hug your best friend, we are not leaving until you can go see your parents in a long-term care facility, and for your children to have a birthday party. This ends now, and we’re going to do it peacefully.”
Other plans being considered by protest leaders include organised “maskless shopping”, for which they have called for “about 1,000 people… maybe more”. The arrival of scores of unmasked people closed the CF Rideau shopping centre all weekend.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 12:50
Police probe incident at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Ottawa police are investigating an incident where several members of the truckers’ protest were seen climbing on a cenotaph and dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 12:15
Complaints from a soup kitchen about harassment
The Shepherds of Good Hope homelessness charity last night tweeted about the protest’s effect on its staff, pointing out that trucks were parked in their ambulance drop off zone for nearly 12 hours before being towed.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 11:34
Right-wing tweeters celebrate atmosphere in Ottawa
As the truckers honk their horns and disrupt life for Ottawa citizens with their anti-mandate protest, sympathetic outlets and users are sharing video of the atmosphere around the rally in the downtown area last night.
Andrew Naughtie31 January 2022 10:45
