Ottawa declares a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 protests

TORONTO (AP) — As demonstrators against COVID-19 restrictions continued to clog Ottawa’s downtown, the mayor of Canada’s capital announced a state of emergency and a former US ambassador to Canada said organizations in the US must quit intervening in the internal affairs of America’s neighbor.

The proclamation, according to Mayor Jim Watson, emphasizes the need for cooperation from other jurisdictions and levels of government. It provides the city with more authority over procurement and service delivery, which might aid in the acquisition of equipment needed by frontline employees and first responders.

On the weekend, tens of thousands of demonstrators arrived in Ottawa, joining a hundred who had stayed since the previous weekend. Residents of Ottawa are enraged by the constant blasting of horns, traffic disruption, and harassment, and worry there may be no end in sight after the police chief described the situation as a “siege” he couldn’t handle.

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Many Republicans in the United States have backed the “freedom truck convoy,” including former President Donald Trump, who dubbed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a “far-left maniac” who “destroyed Canada with absurd Covid requirements.”

“Previously, Canada-US relations were mostly focused on resolving technological concerns. Today, Canada is unhappily seeing extremist American politicians meddling in internal matters. “Trump and his supporters are a menace to all democracies, not just the United States,” tweeted Bruce Heyman, a former US ambassador under President Barack Obama.

“Under no circumstances should any organization in the United States support disruptive operations in Canada,” Heyman added. Period. “End of story.”

Following GoFundMe’s announcement that the great majority of the millions earned by protestors marching in Canada’s capital will be refunded or sent to a charity, prominent Republicans in the United States, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, expressed their displeasure.

However, GoFundMe had already altered its mind and announced that all donors will get reimbursements.

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Premier Doug Ford of Ontario has referred to it as an employee.

“Patriotic Texans contributed to Canadian truckers’ great cause,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted. “The government does not have the authority to compel you to comply with its arbitrary regulations,” Texas Senator Ted Cruz remarked on Fox News.