Now Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (50) is cracking down!
The Canadian police have again massively intensified their large-scale operation in the capital Ottawa against protesting opponents of the Corona measures. On Saturday, heavily armed security forces cleared a street in front of Parliament building, which was the focus of protests led by truck drivers. Violent confrontations and dozens of arrests ensued.
Hundreds of police officers, some on horseback, used tear gas and batons to break up protest blockades in the city center. Police officers drew their guns while smashing the windows of trucks and ordering drivers to get out. The police also posted snipers around the demonstrators.
Armored vehicles and heavily armed police officers in Ottawa on SaturdayPhoto: Justin Tang/AP
According to reports, the police also smashed the windows of the protest trucks with their batons, forcing the drivers to get outPhoto: BLAIR GABLE/REUTERS
Protesters threw gas canisters and smoke grenades at the security forces, forming human chains and shouting “freedom”. Police described the protesters as “aggressive”. Representatives of the protesters, however, accused the police of “brutality”.
By mid-afternoon (local time), security forces had cleared Wellington Street in front of Parliament. Acting Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said 170 people have been arrested since the operation began on Friday, including 47 on Saturday. According to the police, several leaders of the protests were among those arrested.
Some demonstrators threw such petrol cansPhoto: Frank Gunn/AP
Police officers protected themselves with gas masks against the irritant gas usedPhoto: Justin Tang/AP
Since Friday, 38 vehicles involved in the blockade in the city center have also been towed away. However, some of the protesting truck drivers had already left before the police arrived.
Tents and food stands at the site of the protests were also dismantled during the police operation. However, Bell said in a press conference that the demonstrations were “not over”. The protests that began three weeks ago had temporarily paralyzed large parts of public life in Ottawa.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then invoked emergency powers on Monday to be able to take stronger action against the protests. It was the first time the Canadian government had exercised these powers in 50 years.
THESE RULES APPLY IN CANADA
On its website, the Federal Foreign Office provides, among other things, information on entry, which is generally only possible for people who have been fully vaccinated.
In addition, it says about the regulations in the country: “At all airports it is mandatory to wear mouth and nose protection. This is a recommendation for travel on trains, buses and ferries. The staff of all transport companies can exclude people from transport who do not wear adequate mouth and nose protection. The usual hygiene rules apply.”
The Federal Foreign Office also writes: “Depending on the course of infection, restrictions of varying degrees are imposed, including “stay-at-home orders”, which impose restrictions on the movement of citizens for all activities that are not absolutely necessary. The Canadian government provides information on the current rules applicable in the respective provinces. In some provinces and territories, access to various services and cultural and leisure facilities (e.g. restaurants, theatres, museums and cinemas) is only granted upon presentation of a vaccination certificate with a QR code.”
47 people are said to have been arrested on Saturday alonePhoto: Cole Burston/AP
The blockades began as protests by truck drivers against mandatory vaccinations when crossing borders. Later, the protests turned more generally against the Corona rules and the Trudeau government. At the peak of the actions, the truckers temporarily blocked several important border crossings to the USA.
The convoys and blockades of Canadian truck drivers found imitators around the world, including in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Israel and New Zealand.