Former US ambassador calls on groups in the US to stop interfering in Canada’s internal affairs as Trump slams Trudeau
A demonstrator stands on a barricade as trucks continue to block downtown in protest of Covid-19 restrictions, in Ottawa. —AP
The mayor of Canada’s capital declared a state of emergency on Sunday and a former US ambassador to Canada said groups in the United States must stop interfering in the internal affairs of the American neighbor as protesters opposed to Covid-19 restrictions continued to paralyze downtown Ottawa.
Mayor Jim Watson said the statement highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government. This gives the city additional procurement and service delivery powers, which could help buy the equipment needed by frontline workers and first responders.
Thousands of protesters descended on Ottawa again this weekend, joining about 100 who have remained since last weekend. Ottawa residents are furious at the incessant horns, traffic disruptions and harassment and fear no end is in sight after the police chief called it a ‘seat’ he couldn’t to manage.
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The “freedom truck convoy” drew support from many American Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far-left madman” who “destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates”.
“Under no circumstances should a group in the United States fund disruptive activities in Canada. Period. Period,” tweeted Bruce Heyman, former US Ambassador under President Barack Obama.
After crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund or redirect to charity the vast majority of the millions raised by demonstrators protesting in the Canadian capital, prominent US Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis complained and vowed to investigate.
But GoFundMe had already changed its mind and said it would refund everyone. GoFundMe said it cut off funding from the organizers because it determined the effort violated the site’s terms of service due to illegal activity. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it an occupation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted: “Patriotic Texans have donated to the worthy cause of Canadian truckers.” and Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on Fox News that “the government has no right to force you to comply with their arbitrary mandates.”
“For some high-ranking American politicians, patriotism means hiring a mob to besiege a G-7 capital,” tweeted Gerald Butts, a former senior adviser to Trudeau.
Heyman said Republicans are more publicly concerned about events in Canada than Russia.
In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, police controlled and later put an end to a much smaller protest by setting up roadblocks and preventing any trucks or cars from approaching the provincial legislature. Police also moved in to clear a key intersection in the city.
Many Canadians were outraged by the rude behavior of the protesters. Some protesters set off fireworks on the grounds of the National War Memorial on Friday night. A number carried signs and flags with swastikas last weekend and compared vaccination mandates to fascism.
Protesters have said they will not leave until all mandates and Covid-19 restrictions are gone. They are also calling for the removal of the Trudeau government, although it is responsible for some of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments.
