Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 11, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba PAGE A5 FRIDAY,FEBRUARY11,2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COMNEWS I COVID-19 PANDEMIC A5Ottawa faces cross-border pressure to end protests JORDAN PRESS AND LAURA OSMAN OTTAWA — Pressure has mounted on both sides of the border, and across the political aisle in Canada, for protesters blockading key crossings with the U.S. and others encamped by Parliament Hill to go home, or for officials to move them out of the way. Late Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for all members of Parliament from every party to denounce the “illegal blockades and occupations happening across the country.” Trudeau said he briefed the leaders of all opposition parties on the latest developments and stressed on them to call for an end to the blockades. There are blockades at border crossings near Emerson, Coutts, Alta., and the busy Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge. “They’re harming the communities they’re taking place in — and they’re hurting jobs, businesses, and our country’s economy,” Trudeau said in a series of posts on Twitter. “We’ll continue to work closely with municipal and provincial governments to end these blockades, and to make sure they have the resources they need.” Trudeau said he also spoke with Mayor Drew Dilkens about the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge that links Windsor, Ont., with Detroit. “We’re committed to helping the mayor and the province get the situation under control - because it is causing real harm to workers and economies on both sides of the border.” The Canadian Trucking Alliance said Thursday the industry would pay a heavy price for the border actions. It called on governments to end the current blockades and provide a plan to prevent them from happening again. By evening, Teamsters general president Jim Hoffa called for demonstrators to end their protest. Political support for the protesters seemed to evaporate as well, as the interim Conservative leader, who two weeks ago suggested her party would do everything to make the demonstrations the prime minister’s problem, reversed course and cut her party’s support. Speaking to the House of Commons, Candice Bergen called on protesters to go home and end activity that she said was hurting the country’s economicPrime Minister Justin Trudeau: protests 'hurting communities across the country.' rebound from COVID-19. “Take down all of the blockades. Protest peacefully and legally, but it’s time to remove the barricades and the trucks for the sake of the economy,” Bergen said. South of the border, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a written statement urged federal, provincial and local authorities in Canada to immediately end the blockades that threaten her state’s economy. She did so hours before a Michigan congresswoman, Elissa Slotkin, warned of similar protests in the future the longer Canadian authorities let the situation persist. There was no White House briefing Thursday, but officials said senior staff and cabinet members including Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg have been in regular contact with their counterparts in Ottawa. They have been “engaged around the clock to bring this to a swift end,” one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal conversations. “The president is being regularly briefed about the situation.” Homeland Security Adviser Liz Sherwood Randall was also scheduled to speak later Thursday with Jody Thomas, the prime minister’s recently appointed national security and intelligence adviser. Public Safety Minister Marco Men-dicino said the RCMP is sending rein NICKIWANYSHYN /THE CANADIAN PRESS There are now about 400 vehicles left in Ottawa's downtown core, after some vehicles left the area Thursday. forcements to Ottawa and Windsor. The latter city was granted intervener status Thursday in an application for an injunction that would stop protesters blocking Canada-bound traffic at the Ambassador Bridge crossing. An Ontario Superior Court justice was set to hear submissions today. Earlier Thursday, Trudeau said his government was working with municipal and provincial leaders to put an end to barricades that were “hurting communities across the country. But the protests showed no signs of letting up. Speaking to a crowd gathered by Parliament Hill, protester Bethan Nodwell, who is involved in one of the fundraising sites the Ford government targeted, urged protesters to hold the line downtown until reinforcements arrive this weekend. “We’re blocking the airports. We’re blocking borders. We are blocking it all. We are not going to retreat,” she said into the microphone. The so-called Freedom Convoy rolled in to Ottawa two weeks ago ostensibly to protest federal vaccination mandates for truckers. It has also demanded an end to all COVID-19 restrictions and some in the group have called for the government to be dissolved. Ottawa police said Thursday a dozen trucks left an area outside the downtown core after negotiations with protesters who have used the parking lot there as a staging and logistics ground. Ten more trucks left streets near Parliament Hill, and another vehicle was towed for obstructing traffic as police looked to reduce the footprint of the protesters’ occupation of downtown Ottawa. There are now about 400 vehicles left in the core. Demonstrators with large trucks have been warned by police that if they block streets they could be charged with mischief to property, or have their vehicles and other property seized and possibly forfeited. On Thursday afternoon, police said they had made three more arrests since Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests to 25. An investigation is also underway after demonstrators refused to stop for an officer and hit a police cruiser near downtown, though police said no one was injured. Speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly described the demonstration as sophisticated and well-organized. He warned anyone considering coming to the capital on the weekend to think twice about entering the city and said they’ll be met by a beefed-up police presence. Sloly also said he expected an imminent announcement from upper levels of government about the city’s request for 1,800 additional officers to bolster the local force. “As they arrive, they will continue to advance our efforts to end this demonstration as quickly and as safely as possible,” Sloly said. — The Canadian Press CITY • FROMM RUTH BONNEVILLE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Mayor Brian Bowman says he hopes the downtown protest will end before any potential court action is necessary. Winnipeg Police Service declined comment Thursday about its enforcement efforts. Meanwhile, council also supported Coun. Sherri Rollins’ motion to ask the public service to recommend “significant fine increases” for “noise nuisance” offences that last for more than 24 hours, as well as any offences which obstruct or impede emergency vehicles. The motion also calls for the CAO to ask the Manitoba government to consider hiking its fines for similar traffic offences. Council approval would still be required to implement specific changes. Rollins also moved a successful motion to ask the Winnipeg Police Board to review police protest policies, including on public communication. Mayor Brian Bowman said he’s not immediately sure how long it will take to determine which legal options are available to the city or what fine hikes it could consider. “I don’t think there’s an expectation that an injunction will be resulting in the coming days. I think that would be an unrealistic expectation,” said Bowman. In an email, city communications director Felicia Wiltshire said there is no set timeline for a public service response to Thursday’s council decisions, though the potential court matter “will receive the highest priority.” The mayor repeatedly urged protesters to end their “occupation” of local streets as soon as possible. “Hopefully, by the time (the CAO) comes back with (the requested) advice, it will be moot and it won’t be necessary,” said Bowman. The protest aims to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers, among other demands to end public health restrictions, with similar demonstrations taking place in other Canadian communities. Locally, the demonstrators appear to be settling in, with plenty of firewood, food, portable toilets, and equipment gathered at the site. An earlier motion the mayor had raised would have had council ask the province and police to make every effort to ensure compliance with traffic and noise bylaws. It was replaced, however, after some councillors criticized it for lacking more tangible action. In a written statement, the “Winnipeg freedom convoy” protesters thanked council for acknowledging the general right to protest, noting they feel compelled to address “the harm caused by the COVID-19 mandates in our province.” The group also promised to move vehicles away from an area crosswalk and ask all participants to limit honking to two minutes per hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. “We have taken a proactive approach to ensure the rally is both peaceful and respectful, and we have been working to comply with all requests made by the Winnipeg police,” the statement said. On Thursday afternoon, Premier Heather Ste-fanson said her government will not order police to take specific enforcement measures. “As a provincial government, we do not have jurisdiction, nor would it be appropriate, to interfere with civic protests or police operations. However, we remain in regular communication with the mayor and City of Winnipeg officials^ We have full confidence in the front-line officers of the Winnipeg Police Service to maintain order on Winnipeg streets,” Stefanson said in an emailed statement. In a joint evening release, Stefanson and Bowman said they met virtually Thursday to discuss the ongoing protest in the legislature area. The premier and mayor “agreed to keep the lines of communication open, as well as keeping all options open going forward,” the statement said. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga • TOMBRODBECK:NO-WINFORPOLICE/B1 BOULEVARD NORTH Phase II Winnipeg^ Alternative to Long Term Care within Luxury Retirement Living Call US today to discuss a customized care plan to meet your neelfs Call Chassity to schedule your personal visit! 204.272.0369 The Experts in & & & 4 Palliative Care & & & 4 Physical Care Seniors Care & & & 4 Memory Care 2701 Scotia Street (Off Ridgecrest) 204.586.2273 % l^erRidffeU Retirement Resi^nce^^ C! All Seniors Care' LIVING CENTRES Where Caring is Our Number One Concern™ www.allseniorscare.com PROUDLY M CANADIAN mOLA SUPPORTED PARK GOLF & & & '4 COURSE KILDONAN PARK ss River Ridge II I ^ A_05_Feb-11-22_FP_01.indd 5 2022-02-10 10:30 PM ;