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Police officers in Ottawa standing in front of trucks as truckers and supporters protest against Covid-19 measures Patrick Doyle

Mayor seeks mediator as Canadian authorities struggle to tackle truckers' Covid-19 protests

The protests against Covid-19 health restrictions have began on 9 January.

CANADIAN AUTHORITIES ARE struggling to tackle a truckers’ protest against Covid restrictions which has paralysed the national capital for days and threatens to snowball into a full-blown political crisis for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson urged the federal government to appoint a mediator to work with protesters and find a way to defuse the 10-day-long demonstration which has infuriated local residents with incessant honking and diesel fumes.

Yesterday, Watson declared a state of emergency in the capital, calling the protests an “occupation” and declaring them “out of control”.

The Freedom Convoy demonstrations began 9 January in western Canada as protests by truckers angry with vaccine requirements when crossing the US-Canadian border, but have morphed into broader protests against Covid-19 health restrictions and Trudeau’s government.

Protest organiser Tamara Lich said today that activists were willing to engage with the government to find a way out of the crisis, but insisted that pandemic restrictions be eased.

“What we’re trying to do right now is reaching out to all of the federal parties so that we can arrange a sit down,” Lich said during a meeting streamed on YouTube.

“So that we can start these talks and see how we can move forward, have their mandates and the restrictions lifted, restore Canadians rights and freedoms and go home.”

Facing criticism for allowing the centre of the capital to be blocked and many businesses to have to close, Ottawa police yesterday announced new measures to tame the protests by banning people from bringing fuel and other supplies to the rallies.

“Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest,” the police said on Twitter.

Officers have since arrested several people, seized multiple vehicles and issued hundreds of traffic tickets.

‘Reacted too strongly’

Trudeau, who has been in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 a week ago, did not comment on the weekend protests.

On Thursday he ruled out the possibility of deploying the army to disperse the protesters “for now,” saying that one must be “very, very cautious before deploying the military in situations against Canadians”.

“Trudeau has nothing to gain by going to speak to the demonstrators,” Genevieve Tellier, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa, told AFP.

But another political analyst, Frederic Boily of the University of Alberta, said the protests could escalate into a full-blown political crisis.

“Justin Trudeau reacted badly initially,” Boily said. “He reacted too strongly and too abruptly at the start of the protests when he tried to paint them as a far-right protest.”

Boily added that Trudeau “added fuel to the fire” by turning vaccination into a political issue, especially during last summer’s election campaign.

But the opposition also finds itself in a bind politically.

The Conservatives, who will soon be voting to elect their new leader, are themselves divided on the issue of the protests.

“They are afraid that part of their supporters will be tempted by the extreme right, but it is a risky bet for them”, said political analyst Daniel Beland.

While only about 10% of Canadian adults remain unvaccinated, as many as 32% of the population support the anti-mandate protests, according to a recent survey.

© AFP 2022

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:21 PM

    Can infect the brain but the body still works………is that not Facebook !!!

    130
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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:17 PM

    We have these in Ireland already they’re called the government, only they feed on other peoples money!!!

    64
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    Mute Les Rock
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:34 PM

    I detest the government too, but for the love of Jaysis that was poor.

    147
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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:04 PM

    @les rock: but true

    14
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    Mute Joseph Bosh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:14 PM

    So basically some mad scientist could actually create the RAGE virus from 28 days later or the t-virus in resident evil…

    …on the plus side the wouldn’t have to just be hit in the brain. Anywhere will do.

    50
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    Mute Aidan Finn
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:31 PM

    The government should send sports accessories and garden utensils for the coming zombie apocalypse. Make sure you store them with your iodine pill and government cheese.

    49
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    Mute Luca Costa
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:38 PM

    Better get out my copy of Don’t Stop Me Now and my snooker cues. Bring it on!!!

    41
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    Mute Yer auld one
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:55 PM

    Have you seen the specimens dragging themselves around the Liffey boardwalk! The Walking Dead don’t have a patch these dudes. Since they closed the section of boardwalk along Eden Quay it’s let them wander!!!!

    37
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    Mute Rory Mcloughlin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:37 PM

    Take a walk around Kilkenny on a Saturday night after 1am and you can see one quite clearly ;-)

    36
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    Mute cornflaker
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:49 PM

    i remember walking around a lingerie shop a few years back in stephens green shopping centre near valentines day looking for a gift for the mrs. a lot of lads were doing the same thing. as i was browsing i saw the cashier say to her colleague with a look of digust “look at them, walking around with their mouths open like a bunch of f*%kin zombies…animals” jaysus.

    33
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    Mute Elbbit
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    Oct 30th 2012, 9:31 PM

    for those outside the capital…We have thousands of these zombies wandering the street. it amazing how they defy gravity and stay on there feet..while stringing a few words together takes them minutes….aaaaahhhhh heeeeerrrreeee buuuuud,leeeend uuuuuuussssss aaaaa feeeeewwww eeeeeeuuuurrrrrooooooooo

    30
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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:45 PM

    I have my axe and chainsaw ready. Bring it on you undead motherf***ers

    29
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    Mute Daniel R
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:35 PM

    There’s a zombie apocalypse at every bus stop/school/ workplace every Monday morn. B grand sure.

    26
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    Mute Paul Corrigan
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    Oct 30th 2012, 8:44 PM

    Half the passengers on red line LUAS have had this for years

    21
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    Mute Brian Fitzpatrick
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:47 PM

    Setup the cameras in the point village. Best location ever for a zombie movie!

    14
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    Mute James Patrick Smith
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    Oct 31st 2012, 9:26 AM

    I see a lot of Zombies going around in pajamas lately actually I think the Zombies would have more brain power

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    Mute Tommy Omalley
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    Nov 2nd 2012, 1:16 PM

    Ive got an idea for when the zombies attack! We get the car drive to the Winchester get a cup of tea and wait for it to all just blow over

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    Mute George L Rockwell
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    Oct 31st 2012, 1:27 PM

    It’s not a question of IF but a question of WHEN

    2
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