For the most part, events that are the focus of attention in Ottawa are seldom the same concerns that I hear from citizens locally.
This is why Ottawa is often referred to as “the Ottawa bubble”. This week all of that changed. The focus of many across Canada has been on Ottawa as the trucker “freedom convoy” has arrived in addition to news mid-week that the Leader of the Official Opposition was also voted out as leader by a Conservative caucus vote. By the time you read this there will likely be a new interim leader of the official opposition that will have been elected by Conservative MP's. As for the “freedom convoy”, it is less clear what will become of this protest movement currently shutting down much of the downtown area around Parliament Hill. During my time in Ottawa, I have been fortunate to sit on both the Government and Opposition sides of the House. Over that time frame I cannot recall the exact number of different protests that have occurred on the front lawn of the House of Commons, but it is fair to say a great many. It is unfortunate, but not uncommon, that fringe groups with a different message or agenda will also join in on a protest. Sadly, this has occurred with the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa where some individuals have used the protest as an opportunity to spread hateful messages and symbols. Examples include use of Nazi and Confederate flags, disrespect of national moments, and other actions that have no place in Canada. Fortunately, all Parliamentarians have condemned these hateful messages through various channels including some resolutions that passed unanimously in the House of Commons. That said, there are many peaceful, law abiding citizens, the majority of them professional truck drivers, who have expressed other areas of concern most often not the opposition to vaccination but a mandatory vaccine mandate where one can lose their job if they are not vaccinated. Other concerns have been raised against the Prime Minister specifically as well his Liberal Government. From my perspective this is also not uncommon. When I was on the Government side of the House there were often protests against former PM Stephen Harper. Last year we witnessed protests where rail lines and some highways were shut down in opposition to energy projects. During the protests last year PM Trudeau was quoted by CTV News as saying, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the disruptions must be resolved through dialogue, not by ordering in the police.” The PM further added... “We are not the kind of country where politicians get to tell the police what to do in operational matters,”. While Prime Minister Trudeau, in the past, has recommended dialogue as a means to resolving peaceful protests, in the case of this current protest, the Prime Minister is refusing to meet with any of them. My question this week: Do you agree with the Prime Minister’s decision? I can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-665-8711.
9 Comments
Kelly Reichert
2/2/2022 02:39:21 pm
No! I do not agree with the prime minister. We have valid concerns and issues and should be given the respect that any Canadian deserves. I do not believe we are ‘fringe’ as we have been referred to and we definitely are not racist, mysogynist, terrorists, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists wearing tinfoil hats. Is this how a real and true leader talks to his people?? He hasn’t even met with anyone and has made uncalled for judgments based on the fact that we are not aligned with his narrative.
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Nora
2/2/2022 09:28:52 pm
PM Trudeau was elected to speak, to listen to Canadians.He is not in this position to pick and choose.
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Palmira Harker
2/2/2022 03:21:07 pm
NO, I do not agree with Justin Trudeau. I think he is a coward and will always take the easy way out. He should address the concerns of Canadians instead of hiding. He doesn't care about the people who work in every sector and pay high taxes, so that he can spend those dollars foolishly. He has divided our country and has the gall to accuse us of being racist. I think he needs to get down off his high horse and listen to what the Canadians want and need.
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Don Mackay
2/2/2022 03:26:38 pm
I do not agree with the prime minister refusing to meet with the representatives for the freedom convoy. I am particularly opposed to the methods used to implement some health mandates ,some are against our charter of rights 1982 . Many workers in and around princeton don’t dare speak up, for fear of job related reprisals. Please back the interm leader to fight back against the liberal government.. Most people I ask back a lack of confidence of government.
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Stephanie
2/2/2022 04:35:53 pm
Trudeau has never done a poorer job of representing our nation.
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Rick
2/4/2022 08:20:44 pm
Ottawa Police is trying to gaslight the Truckers. What are you and your party going to do to defuse this situation. What side are you on? And what the heck is the plan? Got a statement on GoFundMe?
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Jessie Crawford-Brown
2/7/2022 11:40:00 am
I certainly disagree with JT and think Canada is leaderless when Trudeau has nothing to say to so many of Canada's people who ARE supporting the truckers over these enforced mandates.But he can only call truckers and so many others a fringe group and other ignorant names? I might say why could he see fit to scold Prime Minister Modi of India for not dialoguing with the striking farmers there in 2020 but remain silent now with his own people? Speaks volumes about what sort of character he is , and has, I think.
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Carolyn
2/7/2022 11:58:34 am
No, as far as I can tell no one supports Trudeau besides legacy media. That's what happens when the CBC among others takes a 61 million dollar pre election payout from Justin Trudeau's gov. Where is the transparency? I want our voices heard. That is tax payer money. I want to see our MP standing up for the Truckers in Ottawa, the truckers and farmers at Coutts, Alberta border and for the Freedom Ride in Milk River AB today. We need more British Columbian conservative voices heard in Ottawa!!! No More Mandates. We have been patient for far too long!
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Alisen Paynter
2/8/2022 12:16:06 pm
No, I do not agree . The government needs to meet with these scientists and working people supported by millions of us.
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May 2023
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Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola