Trudeau invokes the Emergencies Act
Not all the premiers are happy with the decision by the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act to deal with truckers’ protests across the country.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the move is necessary, but the powers to call in the military, and suspend civil rights won’t be implemented.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’ll support any proposal that helps bring back law and order to the province.
Ford says the world is watching Canada and wondering whether it’s a stable environment for business and trade.
However, Alberta’s Premier, Jason Kenney says his province already has all the tools it needs to quell any protests, the Emergencies Act will add nothing useful.
Little change in Ottawa
There seems to be little change in the position of hundreds of trucks jamming the streets of downtown Ottawa.
Several dozen have moved to the street-facing Parliament Hill, apparently the result of a deal between the capital’s mayor and one of the main protest organizers to get the vehicles out of residential areas.
But many others remain on residential streets, and other organizers say they have no plans to leave.
They say they’re not scared by the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.
Poll shows Canadians want protesters to go home
A new survey shows more Canadians are becoming fed up with the trucker’s protests.
An Angus Reid poll says 72 percent of those asked now say it’s time for the protesters to go home because they’ve made their point.
And 68 percent say police, or the military, should be sent in to clear out the demonstrators.
The survey also shows that support for wearing face masks, and for cross-border vaccination requirements, has risen since the protests began.
Restrictions being removed
Business groups are pleased that the Ford government is speeding up plans to reduce COVID-19 restrictions.
But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says more needs to be done.
Under the accelerated program, restaurants, bars, and gyms can reopen at full capacity as of Thursday, while large venues, like movie theatres, will go to 50 percent capacity.
As of March 1st, all capacity limits, and the requirement to show proof of vaccination, will be lifted.
The C-F-I-B notes many businesses are now carrying high debt loads incurred as they tried to survive the pandemic.
It wants assurances that such drastic measures won’t be imposed again in the future.
