State of emergency declared in Ontario amid Canadian truckers convoy: 'This is a pivotal, pivotal moment for our nation'
The premier of Ontario declared a state of emergency Friday as the Canadian truckers' convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions continues to clog roads and bridges in Ottawa and at the U.S. border.
What are the details?
Premier Doug Ford said he will convene the provincial cabinet Saturday to enact orders making it “crystal clear” that it's illegal to block critical infrastructure, the Associated Press reported: “Let me be as clear as I can: there will be consequences for these actions, and they will be severe. This is a pivotal, pivotal moment for our nation.”
Ford said violators will face up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000, the AP noted, adding that the orders also make it possible to take away "the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesn’t comply."
He added that the trucker protest is a "siege" of downtown Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the United States and Canada from Detroit to Windsor, NBC News reported.
"It’s an illegal occupation," Ford also told reporters, the network noted. "This is no longer a protest."
While Ford told protesters to go home, NBC News said he isn't at the point where he'll order police to clear the streets.
"We make the laws. The police enforce the laws," he also said, according the network. "But again we cannot ... have people occupying cities, holding them hostage, holding millions and millions of people hostage to go to their jobs and tens and tens and tens of thousands of people [who] cannot go do their job.”
“This is an unprecedented demonstration. It has significant levels of fundraising, coordination and communication," Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said, according to the AP. "They have command centers established here and across the country and beyond this country."
The protest also has led to shortages of auto parts and forced Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Honda to close auto plants or cancel shifts, the AP said, adding that Drew Dilkens — the mayor of Windsor who warned earlier this week that some truckers are “willing to die" — planned to ask for an injunction Friday afternoon to attempt to break up the bridge blockade.
Besides the Ambassador Bridge, protesters also have closed two other border crossings: at Coutts, Alberta, which faces Montana; and at Emerson, Manitoba, across from North Dakota, the outlet said.
The protests are impacting other countries far and near. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said truck protests could be coming this weekend to southern California — just in time for the Super Bowl. And protesters in France drove to Paris on Friday to blockade the city, despite a police ban against such actions.
Anything else?
Sides are being chosen in regard to the protest, and things are getting extreme:
- A police officer from the Ontario Provincial Police was recorded on video standing outside the door of a woman's home, admitting that police have been monitoring a Facebook group she has participated in regarding the protest —and then handing her a brochure on "peaceful protests."
- CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem is not a fan of the trucker protest and recently urged authorities to "slash the tires, empty gas tanks, arrest the drivers, and move the trucks."
- After a Canadian court ordered GiveSendGo — a Christian-based crowdfunding platform — to freeze the transfer of donations to the Freedom Convoy protesters, GiveSendGo shot back: "Know this! Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds ..."
- And cops were recently caught on video roughing a tiny elderly man during the protests after he gave a trucker "a thumbs-up and a honk."
Canadian cop visits woman's home, admits police are monitoring her Facebook group, hands her info on 'peaceful protests': 'Nice to know that we're being watched'
A police officer from the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada was recorded on video standing outside the door o fa woman's home, admitting that police have been monitoring a Facebook group she has participated in regarding growing protests across the province over COVID-19 restrictions — and then handed her a brochure on "peaceful protests."
Say what?
The cellphone video begins with the resident opening her door and asking the officer for her name and badge number, after which the officer hands the resident her card along with "some information about peaceful protests."
The resident asks, "So you saw something on my Facebook?"
"No, on the Facebook group," the officer replies.
"And [you] decided to come to my personal residence to give me information about peaceful protests?" the resident asks.
"Yes," the officer replies.
At first the resident wonders if the officer is with police in Peterborough, a city about 90 minutes northeast of Toronto. But the officer acknowledges she's with the Ontario Provincial Police, and her shoulder patch indicates it as well.
"Are you guys now monitoring people's Facebook pages or Facebook groups [as] to who comments, as to what their status updates are, or what they're doing ... within the group?" the resident continues.
The officer at this point only admits police are "monitoring the protests" happening across Ontario and then adds, "So, there's a protest coming up. I'm simply providing you with information about a peaceful protest, and now I'm leaving. That is all."
'Nice to know that we're being watched'
But the resident apparently wanted to nail down exactly what was going on, so she inquired more: "So the OPP are watching what people are doing on Facebook in different groups, whether or not they're commenting, participating, liking, and you guys are now doing service calls to give people information about peaceful protests?"
"Yeah," the officer replies. "It's just a proactive measure to make sure you understand your rights about peaceful protesting."
The clip concludes with the resident telling the officer, "I'm hoping that you guys aren't gonna waste our tax dollars continuing to do this to everybody, but now it's nice to know that we're being watched."
The Ontario Provincial Police are allegedly monitoring social media groups for the Freedom Convoy and visiting people\u2019s homes who have commented on Facebook groups regarding the convoy.pic.twitter.com/CqNhsrmaZE— Marie Oakes (@Marie Oakes) 1644558297
TheBlaze on Friday morning contacted the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police to inquire about the video, but an official said the office was being "inundated" with calls about the clip and that OPP's corporate communications arm was now handling the matter. OPP has not issued a statement as of noon Friday; TheBlaze will update this story once a statement is issued.
What has been the reaction?
Reaction to the clip has been somewhat mixed. Some commenters said the officer did nothing wrong; others are saying the visit was more or less the delivery of a chilling message from Big Brother.
One commenter noted, "Not really sure why this is an issue. Facebook public communities are just like any other communities. I'm glad OPP is paying attention. That is what I'm paying them for."
To which another user answered, "You pay them to stalk people online? Shouldn't they be solving crime or something?"
Another commenter in favor of the visit wrote, "Good. I see nothing wrong here. The cop was nice, was only there to give information not to arrest or harm anyone. If you post on a public group that supports an illegal occupation I'm glad the cops are checking on you."
But another user replied, "She's a fascist, as are you, since you see no problem with this. There was no reason to show up at her house, since this lady is entitled to speak out and disagree with the government. And there's nothing illegal about it. No wonder Canada has gone to hell, with people like you."
Anything else?
The Canadian truckers protest against COVID-19 restrictions has been dominating headlines across the globe of late, and sides are being chosen as the truckers disrupt the normal flow of commerce to get their points across.
Indeed, some Canadian provinces recently have ordered the easing or lifting of pandemic restrictions in the wake of the protests as well as decreases in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Here's why Canada, NOT AMERICA, pushed back on COVID mandates
On Monday's episode of "Louder with Crowder," Steven Crowder explains why Canadians are revolting. He also tells you what you need to know about the Freedom Convoy of truckers protesting mandates. Later, Crowder tackles the Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy. And actor Michael Rapaport almost realizes the consequences of voting for Dems. All that and more.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven’s uncensored late-night comedy that’s actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.
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