OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 3, 2022 – Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters – as he remains in isolation after testing positive for COVID – that bringing in the military to shut down the ongoing freedom protest on Parliament Hill is “not in the cards.” He did say however, that “the people of Ottawa deserve to have their lives back.”
“This is protesting people going about their daily lives, harassing people who dare wear masks or follow public health rules, expressing hateful approaches, said Justin Trudeau. “This is a time for responsible leadership as well, for all politicians from all parties to tell these protesters, as I have, said Trudeau. “It’s time to give them their neighbourhoods back.”
Despite Ottawa residents having their own freedoms imposed upon, being unable to go about their daily lives without hearing incessant honking, with hundreds of business having to shut down including the Rideau Centre, which has been temporarily closed since last weekend, protest organizer Tamara Lich says “Our departure will be based on the prime minister doing what is right, ending all mandates, and restrictions on our freedoms,” said organizer Tamara Lich who represents Canada Unity.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s response to the press was that he has no plans to negotiate with the protesters. “Having a group of people who disagree with the outcome of an election who want to go a different way and bring in an alternative government is a non-starter in a responsible democracy,” said Trudeau.
Both Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly and Ottawa city counsellor Catherine McKenney have been suggesting that the federal government should get the military and/or RCMP involved to help restore order in Ottawa’s downtown core.
But Prime Minister Trudeau says, “As a federal government there are constitutional requirements on how we intervene in local jurisdictions, and that’s why we are there to provide support as necessary.”
“There were questions a couple of years ago around the military when it came to other protests that were blocking critical infrastructure. My answer then is consistent with my answer now: That one has to be very, very cautious before deploying the military in situations engaging Canadians,” Trudeau told reporters on Thursday.
“It is not something that anyone should enter in[to] lightly, but as of now, there have been no requests, and that is not in the cards right now,” Trudeau said.
While a spokesperson for the minister of national defence said that “the Canadian Armed Forces are not involved in this situation, and there are no plans for such CAF involvement.”
Trudeau did say that the government will respond to any formal requests from either the City of Ottawa or the province of Ontario, and he added that the government is focusing on supporting the Ottawa residents who have had their lives upended by the incessant honking and reported instances of harassment.
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