Blockades over, but Trudeau says emergency powers needed

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ROB GILLIES

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday emergency powers are still needed despite police ending border blockades and the occupation of the nation’s capital by truckers and others angry over Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions.

“The situation is still fragile, the state of emergency is still there,” Trudeau said.

Lawmakers in Parliament will vote Monday night whether to allow police to continue to use emergency powers. Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said his party will support it, ensuring Trudeau should have enough votes.

Trudeau noted there are some truckers that are just outside Ottawa that may be planning further blockades and his public safety minister noted there was an effort to block a border crossing in British Columbia on the weekend.



A camper is towed away by authorities clearing a trucker protest that was aimed at COVID-19 measures, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Feb. 20, 202. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-canada-ottawa-justin-trudeau-8b107609b1e33aca4b13a4d46951a935

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Ugh having to do that with all that snow up there.

As I understand it, the law that authorizes the emergency powers, stipulates that it would only be in effect for no more than 30 days.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Parliament can authorize extensions. . . nt

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I was thinking that was possible

but since this is the first time the law was invoked, I expect they are going to try to avoid doing that (if they can)...

[Sneederbunk]

2. Still has some more ass-kicking to do before he is done.

[Busterscruggs]

4. Until every single truck

That was involved is confiscated and every protester locked away, the job isn't finished yet. Viva trudeau!

[abqtommy]

6. I support Prime Minister Trudeau and the many sensible people of Canada. nt

[hueymahl]

7. While I don't support the trucker's stance, at all

I do support their right to protest. And I do not like the heavy-handed tactics used by Trudeau, et al.

As a 40 year member of the ACLU, I can tell you, that protecting free speech against armed obtstruction, be it from the government or individuals, is far more important than maintaining normal operations in a city. What Trudeau has done is wrong. It could have, should have, been handled far better and without the militarization we saw.

[Justice matters.]

8. Mounties seize guns and arrest 13 protesters at border blockade in Alberta

Alberta RCMP have arrested at least 13 people in relation to a protest against pandemic restrictions near the main U.S. border crossing in southern Alberta.

Mounties said in a release early Monday that they became aware of a small organized group within the larger protest at Coutts, which led to 11 arrests.

They say they had information that the group had access to a cache of firearms and ammunition in three trailers. Officers seized long guns, handguns, multiple sets of body armour, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and high-capacity firearm magazines.

In light of the news, Marco Van Huigenbos, one of the organizers of the protest, said a decision has been reached to roll out from Coutts on Tuesday morning.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/coutts-protest-blockade-arrests-rcmp-monday-1.6351112

I think the ACLU would not support any armed insurrection attempts by right-wing extremists, nor taking a civilian population hostage by making their daily lives a frigthening nightmare for 3 effing weeks.

They can protest all they want, but they must do it without making innocent victims. There's a big difference there. We live in democratic, law-based societies. They can protest by making sure they won't be infiltrated by people seeking to use lawless violence asking to overthrow a government that was re-elected less than 6 months ago by a majority of citizens. I hope the ACLU is aware of all the facts...

[hueymahl]

9. I don't subscribe to whatabaoutism as a valid argument

You could have made exactly the same argument about BLM protestors, which would have been ridiculous because it would have demonized the entire group for the actions of a few.

I am way more concerned about the government weaponizing the financial system against people holding thoughts they don't agree with. Sure, it is all ok while liberals are in power, so we tell ourselves, but what about when a trump-like party takes control? Oh wait, we have already seen that, haven't we?

[Justice matters.]

10. Liberal protests don't treat hen to use weapons to overthrow a government.

Liberal protests don't use their children as human shields. Islamic extremists do that.

So you stand with the Capitol Police using all means necessary to expel violent insurrectionists out of the Capitol.

Also the DOJ using all means necessary to identify and go after those who participated in the January 6 "protest" (let's hope).

I'll rest my case.

[hueymahl]

11. I honestly don't know what"treat hen" means

But I absolutely support the capital police and the DOJ in there efforts. Surely you are not equating the a rioting mob invading the US capital with mostly peaceful protestors parking their trucks in a public street?

Again, I don’t agree with their message, but I support their right to say it, even if it inconveniences the Canadian government in the way they did so.