Police move to clear bridge blockade.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Well it seems they have acted differently than say, Montreal

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-montreal-police-use-pepper-spray-tear-gas-at-george-floyd-protest/

But then Quebec is not Ontario.



And the opposition parties including the Liberals disagree about whether "politics" is involved in the situation (including the delay in calling for a state of emergency, some 2 weeks after the protests began) -

Ontario NDP and Liberals say criticism of Ford amid truck convoy protests 'not about politics'


Colin D'Mello
CTV News Toronto Queen's Park Bureau Chief & Video journalist

Katherine DeClerq
CTV News Toronto Multi-Platform Writer

Published Thursday, February 10, 2022 9:20AM EST
Last Updated Thursday, February 10, 2022 9:20AM EST

As Toronto prepares for another protest and convoy demonstrations in Ottawa reach the two-week mark, Ontario’s opposition parties insist they’re not playing politics as they speak out against the Premier Doug Ford’s perceived inaction. The leaders of both the Ontario NDP and Liberals have stepped up their attacks against the premier, accusing him of abandoning the nation's capital while presenting their own ideas on how to force embedded truck drivers to leave the encampment.

Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca – who said the premier has been “invisible” – recently visited Ottawa to speak with affected business owners and families impacted by the blaring horns and prolonged closures as they wait for Ottawa police to step in. He is also scheduled to visit Windsor on Thursday as protests once again force the Ambassador Bridge to close.

But both parties insist they are not playing politics when it comes to the truck convoy. “Absolutely not,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said when asked by CTV News Toronto whether her party was politicizing the issue. “What this is, is us trying to stand up for the people of Ottawa and put an end to this nightmare that they've been facing.”

(snip)

Policing amid such a large protest could be “tricky situation” for the premier, McDougall said. Earlier this week the Solicitor General was accused of inflating the number of OPP officers dispatched to Ottawa when she claimed 1,500 personnel were deployed – Ottawa police said the true number was closer to 100 officers per day. When asked about the premier’s notable absence during the protests, Deputy Premier Christine Elliott said Ford has been “working around the clock” on economic issues, but the occupation and bridge disruptions “is a matter of concern to him.”

(snip)

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-ndp-and-liberals-say-criticism-of-ford-amid-truck-convoy-protests-not-about-politics-1.5775839

When the George Floyd and BLM protests were going on here in cities nationwide, the responses were often swift when it came to blocking streets not designated as part of a "protest route", with the "Gray Gooses" brought in to haul people away.