Ontario Is Going Into A State Of Emergency Due To The Ongoing Trucker Convoy Protests
The emergency measures are effective immediately.
The Ford government just declared a state of emergency for Ontario so that they could put an end to the trucker convoy protests.
As of Friday, February 11, emergency measures are in place for Ontario, the Premier announced in a press conference on Friday.
"We are now two weeks into the siege of the City of Ottawa. I call it a siege because that is what it is. It's an illegal occupation. This is no longer a protest. With protest, you peacefully make your point and you go back home," Ford said.
Ford then addressed the "very small groups" of protesters who haven't "peacefully" protested.
"To those who have attempted to disrupt our way of life, by targeting our lifeline for food, fuel, and goods across our borders... to those trying to force a political agenda through disruption, intimidation, and chaos," Ford said.
With the state of emergency, Ford will work with the Cabinet to use legal authorities to enact orders that'll make it "crystal clear" it's illegal to clog up the "movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure."
This means border crossings, airports, 400-series highways, ports, bridges and railways will be protected by the government as well as emergency services, pedestrian walkways and public transit.
Anyone who doesn't comply could get hit with a major fine.
Earlier this week, Ford lambasted the protests clogging up the Ambassador Bridge at the Canada-U.S. border in Windsor.
"The damage this is causing to our economy, to people's jobs and their livelihoods is totally unacceptable. We cannot let this continue," Ford said in a statement on February 9.
Ford also condemned the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, too, and expressed he cannot tolerate the desecration of any memorial (like the Terry Fox statue and the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.)
The premier also shared how he was "extremely disturbed" by the symbols of hate seen during the protests, like the waving of Nazi and Confederate flags.
The Freedom Convoy in Ottawa has been protesting for the end of COVID-19 mandates and lockdown measures since January 29, and since its occupation, several other similar protests have popped up across the province and the country alike.
During the same announcement, Ford revealed that there will be an updated timeline of when public health measures will be dropped, which could include the use of vaccine passports.
