In the sanctions game, Russia has sanctioned 313 Canadians including Canadian PM Trudeau.

Russia Ukraine War: Russia sanctions 313 Canadians including PM Trudeau

Canadian aerospace company MDA will be extending its assistance to Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion through radar satellites. This came after Justin Trudeau-led Canadian administration gave a green signal to the company.&nbsp;

MDA CEO Mike Greenley, in a statement, said, "Images captured by MDA's SAR technology, which is unique for its ability to see through all weather and cloud conditions, will be merged and analyzed with other sources of imagery from commercial Earth observation companies to develop comprehensive near-real-time intelligence reports for Ukrainian government officials."

"We're honored that we are able to use our radar satellite capabilities to contribute to these international efforts, and will continue doing everything in our power to help the government of Ukraine protect its citizens," he further added. 
MDA is an Ontario-based company known for its radar capabilities.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-russia-claims-to-have-besieged-two-big-cities-in-ukraine-455211">Also read |&nbsp;LIVE | Ukraine war: Biden announces US ban on Russian vodka, diamonds, seafood</a>

As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, Russian forces have destroyed at least $100 billion worth of infrastructure, buildings and other assets in the conflict till now, said Ukraine's top government economic adviser Oleg Ustenko.&nbsp;

At an online event, which was hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Ustenko, chief economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the invasion has caused 50 per cent of Ukrainian businesses to shut down completely. The rest are operating at below capacity.&nbsp;

The damage estimate is "very approximate" and just includes bridges, hospitals, roads, equipment and other assets, he said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian aerospace company MDA will be extending its assistance to Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion through radar satellites. This came after Justin Trudeau-led Canadian administration gave a green signal to the company.

Canadian aerospace company MDA will be extending its assistance to Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion through radar satellites. This came after Justin Trudeau-led Canadian administration gave a green signal to the company. MDA CEO Mike Greenley, in a statement, said, "Images captured by MDA's SAR technology, which is unique for its ability to see through all weather and cloud conditions, will be merged and analyzed with other sources of imagery from commercial Earth observation companies to develop comprehensive near-real-time intelligence reports for Ukrainian government officials." "We're honored that we are able to use our radar satellite capabilities to contribute to these international efforts, and will continue doing everything in our power to help the government of Ukraine protect its citizens," he further added. MDA is an Ontario-based company known for its radar capabilities. Also read | LIVE | Ukraine war: Biden announces US ban on Russian vodka, diamonds, seafood As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, Russian forces have destroyed at least $100 billion worth of infrastructure, buildings and other assets in the conflict till now, said Ukraine's top government economic adviser Oleg Ustenko. At an online event, which was hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Ustenko, chief economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the invasion has caused 50 per cent of Ukrainian businesses to shut down completely. The rest are operating at below capacity. The damage estimate is "very approximate" and just includes bridges, hospitals, roads, equipment and other assets, he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Canadian space company to help Ukraine in battling Russian invasion by providing intelligence

Last week, phones across Puerto Rico began to ring as members of a private WhatsApp group dedicated to helping others in the US territory stared at their screens in disbelief.

The businessman they knew as administrator of that chat someone who organised philanthropic efforts such as a Christmas toy drive for needy children and renovations for an elementary school had just been arrested.

Conor Vincent D'Monte, who went by Johnny Williams in Puerto Rico, was allegedly a leader of a violent gang sought by Canadian authorities on charges including first-degree murder. He had been on the run for more than a decade.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/useless-cold-war-relics-hundreds-of-german-anti-aircraft-missiles-pledged-to-ukraine-unsafe-says-report-459246">Useless Cold War relics? Hundreds of German anti-aircraft missiles pledged to Ukraine unsafe, says report</a>

It's like a Netflix story, said Antonio Torres, chief deputy US marshal for the district of Puerto Rico.

Authorities don't know exactly when D'Monte, 44, arrived in Puerto Rico, but they believe he had been using the alias Johnny Williams&nbsp;for a while.

The 6-foot, 1-inch fugitive settled into a rural, eastern mountain community near El Yunque rainforest, living in a working-class neighbourhood on a street with no name, Torres said.

Every month, D'Monte would accompany employees of a nonprofit organisation known as Karma Honey Project to a farmer's market in the nearby city of Carolina, said a woman who lived in the same community and sold goods next to his stall. She declined to give her name out of fear.

No one knew anything, she said, adding that she remembers his quiet demeanour the most. We were surprised.

Others who met D'Monte said they were struck by his charisma, good looks, and biological knowledge about bees, adding that he was a frequent name-dropper who easily made connections with Puerto Rico's wealthiest residents. He didn't like having his picture taken but didn't make any effort to hide.

He even met with Puerto Rico's agriculture secretary and a local senator and was invited to the governor's mansion last month for his role in trying to save honeybees after Hurricane Maria as part of his involvement with the Karma Honey Project, a nonprofit company created in February 2019. Its president, Candice Galek, is a Miami entrepreneur and former model. Neither Galek nor her company returned messages for comment.

The guy fooled us all, said a Puerto Rican businessman who asked that his name not be used out of fear.

He said he met D'Monte in the early days of the pandemic after being added to his WhatsApp group, and that D'Monte was known as Johnny Teeth, because his teeth were so white and straight. The businessman described D'Monte as a tremendous sales guy&nbsp;who was very jovial.

It struck me that he didn't have Facebook or any of those things because he truly was a great networker, the businessman said, adding that D'Monte once called him asking if he could borrow a hammer since he was helping repair a school.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-all-set-to-bombard-ukrainian-cities-into-submission-will-deploy-1000-more-mercenaries-report-459244">Russia all set to 'bombard' Ukrainian cities ‘into submission,' will deploy 1,000 more mercenaries: Report</a>

D'Monte remains in federal prison in Puerto Rico as he awaits an extradition process. His public defense attorney declined comment, but she noted in a court hearing on Thursday that D'Monte, who has Canadian and Irish citizenship, requested that the consulates of those countries be notified.

It's unclear why D'Monte chose Puerto Rico or if he knew anyone in the US territory.

He is accused in the killing of a rival gang member at a Vancouver strip mall in February 2009, at a time when that part of British Columbia was experiencing one of the worst gang violence outbreaks in its history, according to a police statement.

D'Monte also is accused of conspiring to murder two alleged rival gang members known as the Bacon Brothers, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The United Nations&nbsp;gang that D'Monte allegedly belongs to is considered one of the most powerful ones in British Columbia and is best known for exporting one of the most popular marijuana strains in the US mainland: the B.C. Bud.

Anyone thinking that Mr. D'Monte was a street corner hustler, it couldn't be further than the truth, he said. Mr. D'Monte was a fairly sophisticated individual.

McConnell said it's highly unusual for fugitives to be on the run for as long as D'Monte and to successfully assimilate themselves into a community.

D'Monte, who police said has travelled to Asia and allegedly is associated with a drug network in Mexico, was last seen in the Vancouver area in January 2011. He then fled to Spain and travelled up to Ireland where he obtained a fake passport, said Spencer, the retired detective.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Saudi Arabia is drifting away from America

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He noted that authorities tried to catch D'Monte by monitoring all calls to his daughter's phone every year on her birthday, but that never worked out. That tells you how smart he is. He knows not to do that.

After stopping in Ireland, D'Monte vanished until he reappeared in Puerto Rico more than a decade later.

As D'Monte drove through the popular tourist district of Isla Verde on February 25, the agents closed in.

He acted surprised, Torres said, adding that he didn't resist arrest.

D'Monte was alone, except for a 9mm at his side.&nbsp;

Last week, phones across Puerto Rico began to ring as members of a private WhatsApp group dedicated to helping others in the US territory stared at their screens in disbelief.

Last week, phones across Puerto Rico began to ring as members of a private WhatsApp group dedicated to helping others in the US territory stared at their screens in disbelief. The businessman they knew as administrator of that chat someone who organised philanthropic efforts such as a Christmas toy drive for needy children and renovations for an elementary school had just been arrested. Conor Vincent D'Monte, who went by Johnny Williams in Puerto Rico, was allegedly a leader of a violent gang sought by Canadian authorities on charges including first-degree murder. He had been on the run for more than a decade. Also read | Useless Cold War relics? Hundreds of German anti-aircraft missiles pledged to Ukraine unsafe, says report It's like a Netflix story, said Antonio Torres, chief deputy US marshal for the district of Puerto Rico. Authorities don't know exactly when D'Monte, 44, arrived in Puerto Rico, but they believe he had been using the alias Johnny Williams for a while. The 6-foot, 1-inch fugitive settled into a rural, eastern mountain community near El Yunque rainforest, living in a working-class neighbourhood on a street with no name, Torres said. Every month, D'Monte would accompany employees of a nonprofit organisation known as Karma Honey Project to a farmer's market in the nearby city of Carolina, said a woman who lived in the same community and sold goods next to his stall. She declined to give her name out of fear. No one knew anything, she said, adding that she remembers his quiet demeanour the most. We were surprised. Others who met D'Monte said they were struck by his charisma, good looks, and biological knowledge about bees, adding that he was a frequent name-dropper who easily made connections with Puerto Rico's wealthiest residents. He didn't like having his picture taken but didn't make any effort to hide. He even met with Puerto Rico's agriculture secretary and a local senator and was invited to the governor's mansion last month for his role in trying to save honeybees after Hurricane Maria as part of his involvement with the Karma Honey Project, a nonprofit company created in February 2019. Its president, Candice Galek, is a Miami entrepreneur and former model. Neither Galek nor her company returned messages for comment. The guy fooled us all, said a Puerto Rican businessman who asked that his name not be used out of fear. He said he met D'Monte in the early days of the pandemic after being added to his WhatsApp group, and that D'Monte was known as Johnny Teeth, because his teeth were so white and straight. The businessman described D'Monte as a tremendous sales guy who was very jovial. It struck me that he didn't have Facebook or any of those things because he truly was a great networker, the businessman said, adding that D'Monte once called him asking if he could borrow a hammer since he was helping repair a school. Also read | Russia all set to 'bombard' Ukrainian cities ‘into submission,' will deploy 1,000 more mercenaries: Report D'Monte remains in federal prison in Puerto Rico as he awaits an extradition process. His public defense attorney declined comment, but she noted in a court hearing on Thursday that D'Monte, who has Canadian and Irish citizenship, requested that the consulates of those countries be notified. It's unclear why D'Monte chose Puerto Rico or if he knew anyone in the US territory. He is accused in the killing of a rival gang member at a Vancouver strip mall in February 2009, at a time when that part of British Columbia was experiencing one of the worst gang violence outbreaks in its history, according to a police statement. D'Monte also is accused of conspiring to murder two alleged rival gang members known as the Bacon Brothers, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The United Nations gang that D'Monte allegedly belongs to is considered one of the most powerful ones in British Columbia and is best known for exporting one of the most popular marijuana strains in the US mainland: the B.C. Bud. Anyone thinking that Mr. D'Monte was a street corner hustler, it couldn't be further than the truth, he said. Mr. D'Monte was a fairly sophisticated individual. McConnell said it's highly unusual for fugitives to be on the run for as long as D'Monte and to successfully assimilate themselves into a community. D'Monte, who police said has travelled to Asia and allegedly is associated with a drug network in Mexico, was last seen in the Vancouver area in January 2011. He then fled to Spain and travelled up to Ireland where he obtained a fake passport, said Spencer, the retired detective. Watch | Gravitas: Saudi Arabia is drifting away from America He noted that authorities tried to catch D'Monte by monitoring all calls to his daughter's phone every year on her birthday, but that never worked out. That tells you how smart he is. He knows not to do that. After stopping in Ireland, D'Monte vanished until he reappeared in Puerto Rico more than a decade later. As D'Monte drove through the popular tourist district of Isla Verde on February 25, the agents closed in. He acted surprised, Torres said, adding that he didn't resist arrest. D'Monte was alone, except for a 9mm at his side.

Arrest of longtime Canadian fugitive stuns Puerto Rico

Major Canadian TV providers have pulled Russian state television network RT from their output, they announced separately Sunday.

The move to take the station off the airwaves came days after Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Cold war ended.

Regularly accused of contributing to disinformation, RT is in the crosshairs of several Western nations, which accuse it of being a Kremlin mouthpiece.

A spokeswoman for Bell, one of Canada's biggest TV providers, told AFP: "Since February 27, RT is no longer available on Bell channels."

And Rogers tweeted: "We have made the decision that effective tomorrow, Russia Today will no longer be available on our channel lineup."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-russia-claims-to-have-besieged-two-big-cities-in-ukraine-455211">Also read |&nbsp;LIVE | EU dampens Ukraine plea for 'immediate' membership</a>

Another TV operator, Telus, said it too would drop RT, as did Shaw Communications.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, speaking after the initial Bell announcement, welcomed the decision.

"Russia has been conducting warfare in Ukraine since 2014 and information warfare across the world," he wrote on Twitter.

"RT is the propaganda arm of (Russia President Vladimir)&nbsp;Putin's regime that spreads disinformation. It has no place here."

All four companies also said in online statements that they would waive long-distance fees for calls from Canada to Ukraine until the end of March, for customers who wanted to check on loved ones in the Kremlin-threatened country.

Canada has a large Ukrainian diaspora, numbering more than 1.3 million people.

More and more countries have disconnected RT in recent weeks.

On Sunday, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced RT and fellow state media outlet Sputnik would be banned from the European Union, to prevent them from spreading their "lies" about the war.

Commissioned in 2005 as "Russia Today", state-funded RT has grown with broadcasters and websites in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Major Canadian TV providers have pulled Russian state television network RT from their output, they announced separately Sunday. The move to take the station off the airwaves came days after Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Cold war ended.

Major Canadian TV providers have pulled Russian state television network RT from their output, they announced separately Sunday. The move to take the station off the airwaves came days after Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Cold war ended. Regularly accused of contributing to disinformation, RT is in the crosshairs of several Western nations, which accuse it of being a Kremlin mouthpiece. A spokeswoman for Bell, one of Canada's biggest TV providers, told AFP: "Since February 27, RT is no longer available on Bell channels." And Rogers tweeted: "We have made the decision that effective tomorrow, Russia Today will no longer be available on our channel lineup." Also read | LIVE | EU dampens Ukraine plea for 'immediate' membership Another TV operator, Telus, said it too would drop RT, as did Shaw Communications. Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, speaking after the initial Bell announcement, welcomed the decision. "Russia has been conducting warfare in Ukraine since 2014 and information warfare across the world," he wrote on Twitter. "RT is the propaganda arm of (Russia President Vladimir) Putin's regime that spreads disinformation. It has no place here." All four companies also said in online statements that they would waive long-distance fees for calls from Canada to Ukraine until the end of March, for customers who wanted to check on loved ones in the Kremlin-threatened country. Canada has a large Ukrainian diaspora, numbering more than 1.3 million people. More and more countries have disconnected RT in recent weeks. On Sunday, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced RT and fellow state media outlet Sputnik would be banned from the European Union, to prevent them from spreading their "lies" about the war. Commissioned in 2005 as "Russia Today", state-funded RT has grown with broadcasters and websites in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Canadian TV giants pull Russia's RT network from their output

Russian vodka is said to be a luxury now in the US and Canada, the local shopkeepers have started a movement to phase out Russian vodka from their shelves in what is called by the residents as tiny sanctions.

Russian vodka to be removed from shelves in US and Canada

Canada&nbsp;has closed its&nbsp;airspace&nbsp;to all&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;carriers&nbsp;in protest at the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;invasion of Ukraine, Ottawa announced Sunday.

But the ban was quickly tested when, according to Canadian officials, a plane operated by&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;airline Aeroflot flew over the country.

Aeroflot flight 111 had departed Miami, Florida, bound for Moscow.

Announcing the measure earlier in the day, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said: "We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-10-world-news-russia-shuts-airspace-to-flights-from-bulgaria-poland-and-more-456828">Top 10 world news: Russia shuts airspace to flights from Bulgaria, Poland, and more</a>

The closure, effective immediately, aligned&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;with the vast majority of European countries.

While there had been no direct flights between Canadian and&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;airports, the decision by the world's second-largest country -- Russia is the largest -- promised to seriously complicate flights by Aeroflot to or from the United States, as well as to other countries to the south.

Any flight owned, chartered by or used by&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;interests -- including private flights -- was banned from Canadian skies, transport ministry spokeswoman Valerie Glazer told AFP in an email.

However, the Aeroflot flight "violated the prohibition", according to a tweet by government agency Transport&nbsp;Canada.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/after-canadian-freedom-convoy-us-peoples-convoy-protests-pandemic-restrictions-455836">After Canadian Freedom Convoy, US 'People's Convoy' protests pandemic restrictions</a>

"We are launching a review of the conduct of Aeroflot and the independent air navigation service provider, NAVCAN, leading up to this violation," it said.

"We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action and other measures to prevent future violations."

A growing list of European countries -- including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden -- have closed their&nbsp;airspace&nbsp;to&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;carriers&nbsp;in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Britain barred Aeroflot flights on Thursday.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine Conflict: EU shuts airspace to Russian airlines amid invasion

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No flights from Russia appeared Sunday to be arriving at major US airports in Washington, Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Delta Airlines on Friday suspended a code-sharing arrangement with Aeroflot.

But the US Transportation Department has yet to announce a decision on banning&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;flights.

Canada has closed its airspace to all Russian carriers in protest at the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ottawa announced Sunday. But the ban was quickly tested when, according to Canadian officials, a plane operated by Russian airline Aeroflot flew over the country.

Canada has closed its airspace to all Russian carriers in protest at the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ottawa announced Sunday. But the ban was quickly tested when, according to Canadian officials, a plane operated by Russian airline Aeroflot flew over the country. Aeroflot flight 111 had departed Miami, Florida, bound for Moscow. Announcing the measure earlier in the day, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said: "We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine." Also read | Top 10 world news: Russia shuts airspace to flights from Bulgaria, Poland, and more The closure, effective immediately, aligned Canada with the vast majority of European countries. While there had been no direct flights between Canadian and Russian airports, the decision by the world's second-largest country -- Russia is the largest -- promised to seriously complicate flights by Aeroflot to or from the United States, as well as to other countries to the south. Any flight owned, chartered by or used by Russian interests -- including private flights -- was banned from Canadian skies, transport ministry spokeswoman Valerie Glazer told AFP in an email. However, the Aeroflot flight "violated the prohibition", according to a tweet by government agency Transport Canada. Also read | After Canadian Freedom Convoy, US 'People's Convoy' protests pandemic restrictions "We are launching a review of the conduct of Aeroflot and the independent air navigation service provider, NAVCAN, leading up to this violation," it said. "We will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action and other measures to prevent future violations." A growing list of European countries -- including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden -- have closed their airspace to Russian carriers in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Britain barred Aeroflot flights on Thursday. Watch | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: EU shuts airspace to Russian airlines amid invasion No flights from Russia appeared Sunday to be arriving at major US airports in Washington, Baltimore, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Delta Airlines on Friday suspended a code-sharing arrangement with Aeroflot. But the US Transportation Department has yet to announce a decision on banning Russian flights.

Canada closes airspace to all Russian carriers

The truckers' siege in Canada has ended but a state of emergency persists. PM Justin Trudeau says he needs emergency powers to maintain public order. His critics are calling this an 'overreach'. Is Trudeau abusing his power?

Canada: Freedom convoy protests end in Ottawa but Justin Trudeau still backs emergency powers

The truckers' siege in Canada has ended but a state of emergency persists. PM Justin Trudeau says he needs emergency powers to maintain public order. His critics are calling this an 'overreach'. Is Trudeau abusing his power? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Is Justin Trudeau abusing his power?

Protest in Canada ended after a three-week-long demonstration. Several standoffs between police and protesters took place before it finally ended. What led to the protest and how it came to an end? Here’s a look at a timeline of events.

Canada truckers’ protest: Timeline of how three-week long demonstration ended

Canada's Parliament has backed the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to impose emergency powers to deal with weeks-long protest blockades against Covid-19 restrictions.

Blockades over but emergency powers needed, says Canadian PM Justin Trudeau

Canada's police reclaimed Ottawa after 3 weeks of protests. Protesters were dispersed on gunpoint. Trucks were towed, truckers arrested, roads cleared. Has the freedom convoy run over Trudeau's career? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: Canada's violent crackdown on protesters

After months of ongoing protests against covid-19 protocols, the Canadian police have now reclaimed the capital Ottawa from the protesting truckers.

Freedom convoy protests ends, police reclaim Canadian capital Ottawa

Various organisations around the world, especially in India and the United States, have chastised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for invoking federal emergency powers to repress truckers protesting Canada's COVID-19 limitations.

After being linked to a $100 donation supporting the convoy blocking Ottawa roadways, the head of communications for the Ontario ministry in charge of executing the legislation was fired. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mr-justin-trudeau-you-are-wrong-about-the-swastika-here-are-the-facts-454304">Also read | Mr. Justin Trudeau, you are wrong about the Swastika: Here are the facts</a>

Marion Isabeau-Ringuette is one of numerous government employees and acquaintances under investigation after their names or identifying information was discovered in a pair of leaks involving 100,000 donations to the GiveSendGo website in the United States.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers to quell truckers' protest in Canada

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As recently as Sunday, Isabeau-Ringuette worked as a political staffer for Ontario's Solicitor-General, a post that regulates police and other law enforcement in the province.

Even minor donors to the blockade in Canada risk having their bank accounts seized if they continue to donate.&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly supported the Indian farmers' protest and expressed sympathy, but he is cracking down on the Ottawa truckers' sit-in in his own nation.

Trudeau's double standards are exposed by this conduct.

"Canada stands ready to protect the right to peaceful protest at any time. "In response to the farmers' protest in India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said.&nbsp;

Trudeau engaged in India's domestic affairs without flinching for a second, and members of his government, such as Jagmeet Singh, did the same without regard for the facts on the ground, further denting already strained relations with India. 
&nbsp; 
Watch | Gravitas: Freedom Convoy Protests: Trudeau "upsets" Hindus

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(With inputs from agencies)

Various organisations around the world, especially in India and the United States, have chastised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for invoking federal emergency powers to repress truckers protesting Canada's COVID-19 limitations.

Various organisations around the world, especially in India and the United States, have chastised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for invoking federal emergency powers to repress truckers protesting Canada's COVID-19 limitations. After being linked to a $100 donation supporting the convoy blocking Ottawa roadways, the head of communications for the Ontario ministry in charge of executing the legislation was fired. Also read | Mr. Justin Trudeau, you are wrong about the Swastika: Here are the facts Marion Isabeau-Ringuette is one of numerous government employees and acquaintances under investigation after their names or identifying information was discovered in a pair of leaks involving 100,000 donations to the GiveSendGo website in the United States. Watch | PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers to quell truckers' protest in Canada As recently as Sunday, Isabeau-Ringuette worked as a political staffer for Ontario's Solicitor-General, a post that regulates police and other law enforcement in the province. Even minor donors to the blockade in Canada risk having their bank accounts seized if they continue to donate. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly supported the Indian farmers' protest and expressed sympathy, but he is cracking down on the Ottawa truckers' sit-in in his own nation. Trudeau's double standards are exposed by this conduct. "Canada stands ready to protect the right to peaceful protest at any time. "In response to the farmers' protest in India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said. Trudeau engaged in India's domestic affairs without flinching for a second, and members of his government, such as Jagmeet Singh, did the same without regard for the facts on the ground, further denting already strained relations with India. Watch | Gravitas: Freedom Convoy Protests: Trudeau "upsets" Hindus (With inputs from agencies)

Canada: Justin Trudeau's government fires a woman for donating $100 to protesters

The Canadian police have secured the capital city Ottawa with fences as the city workers cleaned up trash and snow ploughs cleared streets on Sunday (February 20).&nbsp;

After a couple of days of tense standoffs and use of force by Canadian police, the three-week-long demonstrations in Ottawa ended.

Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell told reporters: "We promised earlier this week that we would clear our streets and give them back to our residents."&nbsp;

"We promised that we would return our city to a state of normalcy. With every hour, we are getting closer to that goal," Bell further added.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraines-sovereignty-and-territorial-integrity-must-be-protected-china-454860">Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be protected: China</a>

Protesters used hundreds of trucks and vehicles to paralyse the Canadian capital by parking and camping on the streets since January 28.&nbsp;

The protest even prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke rarely used emergency powers.&nbsp;

During the tense standoff, police reportedly made over 191 arrests. Police said that over 76 vehicles had been towed.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-to-meet-russian-counterpart-vladimir-putin-till-he-halts-ukraine-invasion-454912">US President Joe Biden to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin till he halts Ukraine invasion</a>

Ottawa's Interim Police Chief also said: "City crews are clearing and ploughing the affected areas. At this time, checkpoints remain throughout the city."&nbsp;

"We ask residents to respect these checkpoints and the officers who are working there. We continue to advise unlawful protesters that they must leave the area immediately or they may face arrest," he added.&nbsp;

He further informed that those arrested so far face 389 different criminal charges, including obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer.&nbsp;

The demonstrations started as the protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers. However, the blockade turned into a demonstration against Trudeau and the government.&nbsp;

Reports have mentioned that the last few protesters stayed late into Saturday night but it was fizzled as a deep freeze gripped the city.&nbsp;

On Saturday (February 19), police also used force such as batons and pepper spray when&nbsp;they attempted to remove the demonstrators.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Canada truckers protest: Cops continue crackdown with baton, pepper spray

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The Canadian police have secured the capital city Ottawa with fences as the city workers cleaned up trash and snow ploughs cleared streets on Sunday (February 20).

The Canadian police have secured the capital city Ottawa with fences as the city workers cleaned up trash and snow ploughs cleared streets on Sunday (February 20). After a couple of days of tense standoffs and use of force by Canadian police, the three-week-long demonstrations in Ottawa ended. Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell told reporters: "We promised earlier this week that we would clear our streets and give them back to our residents." "We promised that we would return our city to a state of normalcy. With every hour, we are getting closer to that goal," Bell further added. ALSO READ | Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be protected: China Protesters used hundreds of trucks and vehicles to paralyse the Canadian capital by parking and camping on the streets since January 28. The protest even prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke rarely used emergency powers. During the tense standoff, police reportedly made over 191 arrests. Police said that over 76 vehicles had been towed. ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden to meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin till he halts Ukraine invasion Ottawa's Interim Police Chief also said: "City crews are clearing and ploughing the affected areas. At this time, checkpoints remain throughout the city." "We ask residents to respect these checkpoints and the officers who are working there. We continue to advise unlawful protesters that they must leave the area immediately or they may face arrest," he added. He further informed that those arrested so far face 389 different criminal charges, including obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer. The demonstrations started as the protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers. However, the blockade turned into a demonstration against Trudeau and the government. Reports have mentioned that the last few protesters stayed late into Saturday night but it was fizzled as a deep freeze gripped the city. On Saturday (February 19), police also used force such as batons and pepper spray when they attempted to remove the demonstrators. WATCH | Canada truckers protest: Cops continue crackdown with baton, pepper spray ×

Canadian police secure capital as weeks-long anti-vaccine protest appears to end

With over 190 people arrested, the Canadian Police have reclaimed the capital city Ottawa from the protesting truckers. Demonstrators had used hundreds of trucks and vehicles to block the city since 28 January, 2022.

Canada Police reclaim capital Ottawa after weeks-long truckers' protests

A cavalcade of big rigs rumbled into the Canadian capital, blocked major streets, drew thousands of supporters, enraged residents and captured the attention of a shocked nation for three weeks. Now they’re gone, leaving Canadians to grapple with some high stakes questions about their country’s political future.

Was the occupation an aberration, or was it the beginning of a more fundamental shift in the country’s political landscape? Did their chaotic blockade alienate the public so much that the movement has no shot at a future, or did it form the base for a lasting political organization?

“There is a worry, and it’s been expressed in all kinds of ways, that this protest movement will become something much more significant and much more sustained,” said Wesley Wark, a senior fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian public policy group. “It was given terrific oxygen to spread its message.”

The moment is uniquely tied to the pandemic: Protesters demanded an end to all government pandemic measures. But it is also part of a broader trend.

Social media was a driving force behind street protests of the past decade or so, uniting multitudes in occupations from Zuccotti Park in New York to Gezi Park in Istanbul. But research has shown that such movements often have a tough time converting their energy into real change.

By Sunday afternoon, streets in Ottawa that had been clogged with trucks, makeshift canteens and noisy protesters were largely empty except for police vehicles. A swath of downtown had been fenced off. A protester compound that had occupied a baseball stadium’s parking lot had been cleared — although about two dozen heavy trucks and a cluster of other vehicles reconvened about 100 kilometers outside the city.

During their three-week occupation, much about the protests alienated Canadians. At a border blockade in Alberta, police seized a large cache of weapons and charged four protesters with conspiring to murder police officers.

But demonstrators also saw much of the disruption they caused as a tactical victory.

One contingent in Windsor, Ontario, blocked a key bridge between Canada and the United States for a week, forcing auto plants to scale back production and disrupting about $300 million a day in trade.

From the beginning, they caught law enforcement flat-footed. Some truckers said in interviews that they were surprised at being allowed to stay in the first place, and the city’s police chief resigned in response to the public anger over the sluggish pace at which authorities moved to dislodge them.

The breakup of the demonstration came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has cast himself as a champion of human rights, invoked an emergency measure that gave the police the ability to seize the protesters’ vehicles and allowed banks to freeze their accounts. Trudeau’s decision prompted legal action to quash the order from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which called it “unconstitutional.”

The leader of the Conservative Party, Erin O’Toole, had tilted increasingly toward the center, but was forced out and temporarily replaced by a full-throated supporter of the protests. And Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, lifted the proof of vaccination requirement and capacity limits for businesses slightly earlier than planned.

Neither move was directly tied to the occupation — Ford explicitly said he was not responding to protesters’ demands but to the public health trends — but both were celebrated as wins by the occupiers.

Perhaps most consequentially, under the eye of ubiquitous television cameras and livestreaming cellphones, the protests dominated the airwaves for weeks and generated conversation about coronavirus restrictions.

“The big lesson in all of this is everybody’s learned that we’re not actually powerless,” B.J. Dichter, an official spokesperson for the convoy, said in an online discussion among supporters last week. Much has “happened as a result of all these people coming together,” he said.

But the demonstrators haven’t actually channeled the energy built up over weeks into a clear political force, experts said.

Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, a right-wing group that has no seats in Parliament, showed up to the protests — but he didn’t attract much more attention than any other speaker.

And although there were pockets of sympathy for the protesters’ frustration with pandemic rules, the bulk of Canadians resented their tactics and wanted them to go home, surveys show. In Ottawa, residents were angry that the authorities took so long to act.

“This thing was a truly fringe movement that got lucky, in my view, in terms of failures of policing,” Wark said. “I think this has been an extraordinary moment and flash in the pan.”

There were elements of right-wing extremism tied to the protests around the country, where Confederate, QAnon and Trump flags had cropped up. Conspiracy theorists could be found milling about Parliament, too: people who believed big Pharma created the coronavirus in order to make money on vaccines or that QR codes allow the government to police our thoughts.

But the protests drew in thousands of people on some weekends, many of them just frustrated Canadians who didn’t want to be forced to get a vaccine or were just fed up with the pandemic and its restrictions. The majority of the more than $8 million donated to the truckers through GiveSendGo came from Canada, a data leak showed.

Trucker after trucker said this was his or her first protest. Michael Johnson, 53, parked his fire-engine-red truck in front of Parliament after his son suggested they drive in with the convoy. He stayed there until the very end.

“When we turned our headlights toward Ottawa, I don’t think any of us knew what we were driving into,” Johnson said. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until I got here.”

Johnson never got vaccinated and didn’t have to — hauling scrap metal around northern Ontario doesn’t require crossing the border. And he said he recently became a supporter of the right-wing People’s Party of Canada. But he believes the coronavirus is real and when people knocked on the door of his cab to talk about conspiracy theories, he refused to engage.

“That’s not why I’m here,” he said. “It’s a distraction.”

Every 10 minutes or so, someone stopped by to drop off money, give him a hug, or thank him.

Johnson has heard stories of people who lost their jobs because they don’t want to get vaccinated. His cab is plastered with appreciation letters from people who have told him that the movement made them feel, for once, that they weren’t crazy or alone.

“Telling people you either get this or you lose your jobs or you can’t go to places — it’s segregation,” Johnson said.

Carmen Celestini, a postdoctoral fellow at the Disinformation Project at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, said that kind of protester, “the genuine people who are anti-vaccine,” has been overlooked throughout the occupation.

“Their voices have been ignored in much of this,” Celestini said, adding that, “because we keep shoving that underneath name-calling and not engaging, it’s going to fester.”

Johnson’s truck is the most valuable thing that he owns, and it is his livelihood. The risk of losing it left him anxious. When the police started closing in, his uncle and aunt begged him to go home.

“The realization of what I might lose from all this,” he said, “that’s scary.” There was a part of him that wanted the stakeout to just end. But he refused to pack up early.

“I’m too far in now,” he said, “If we show fear, everyone else will lose momentum.”

On Saturday, police finally reached his door. A man walked up to shake his hand through the window one more time. Johnson walked out with his hands in the air, surrendering himself and his truck to the authorities. A crush of supporters let out a cheer. “We love you,” several people yelled.

Johnson was forced out of the protest along with everyone else gathered in front of Parliament. But he vowed to keep fighting.

“Now,” he said, “they’ve woken me up.”

A cavalcade of big rigs rumbled into the Canadian capital, blocked major streets, drew thousands of supporters, enraged residents and captured the attention of a shocked nation for three weeks.

A cavalcade of big rigs rumbled into the Canadian capital, blocked major streets, drew thousands of supporters, enraged residents and captured the attention of a shocked nation for three weeks. Now they’re gone, leaving Canadians to grapple with some high stakes questions about their country’s political future. Was the occupation an aberration, or was it the beginning of a more fundamental shift in the country’s political landscape? Did their chaotic blockade alienate the public so much that the movement has no shot at a future, or did it form the base for a lasting political organization? “There is a worry, and it’s been expressed in all kinds of ways, that this protest movement will become something much more significant and much more sustained,” said Wesley Wark, a senior fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian public policy group. “It was given terrific oxygen to spread its message.” The moment is uniquely tied to the pandemic: Protesters demanded an end to all government pandemic measures. But it is also part of a broader trend. Social media was a driving force behind street protests of the past decade or so, uniting multitudes in occupations from Zuccotti Park in New York to Gezi Park in Istanbul. But research has shown that such movements often have a tough time converting their energy into real change. By Sunday afternoon, streets in Ottawa that had been clogged with trucks, makeshift canteens and noisy protesters were largely empty except for police vehicles. A swath of downtown had been fenced off. A protester compound that had occupied a baseball stadium’s parking lot had been cleared — although about two dozen heavy trucks and a cluster of other vehicles reconvened about 100 kilometers outside the city. During their three-week occupation, much about the protests alienated Canadians. At a border blockade in Alberta, police seized a large cache of weapons and charged four protesters with conspiring to murder police officers. But demonstrators also saw much of the disruption they caused as a tactical victory. One contingent in Windsor, Ontario, blocked a key bridge between Canada and the United States for a week, forcing auto plants to scale back production and disrupting about $300 million a day in trade. From the beginning, they caught law enforcement flat-footed. Some truckers said in interviews that they were surprised at being allowed to stay in the first place, and the city’s police chief resigned in response to the public anger over the sluggish pace at which authorities moved to dislodge them. The breakup of the demonstration came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has cast himself as a champion of human rights, invoked an emergency measure that gave the police the ability to seize the protesters’ vehicles and allowed banks to freeze their accounts. Trudeau’s decision prompted legal action to quash the order from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which called it “unconstitutional.” The leader of the Conservative Party, Erin O’Toole, had tilted increasingly toward the center, but was forced out and temporarily replaced by a full-throated supporter of the protests. And Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, lifted the proof of vaccination requirement and capacity limits for businesses slightly earlier than planned. Neither move was directly tied to the occupation — Ford explicitly said he was not responding to protesters’ demands but to the public health trends — but both were celebrated as wins by the occupiers. Perhaps most consequentially, under the eye of ubiquitous television cameras and livestreaming cellphones, the protests dominated the airwaves for weeks and generated conversation about coronavirus restrictions. “The big lesson in all of this is everybody’s learned that we’re not actually powerless,” B.J. Dichter, an official spokesperson for the convoy, said in an online discussion among supporters last week. Much has “happened as a result of all these people coming together,” he said. But the demonstrators haven’t actually channeled the energy built up over weeks into a clear political force, experts said. Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, a right-wing group that has no seats in Parliament, showed up to the protests — but he didn’t attract much more attention than any other speaker. And although there were pockets of sympathy for the protesters’ frustration with pandemic rules, the bulk of Canadians resented their tactics and wanted them to go home, surveys show. In Ottawa, residents were angry that the authorities took so long to act. “This thing was a truly fringe movement that got lucky, in my view, in terms of failures of policing,” Wark said. “I think this has been an extraordinary moment and flash in the pan.” There were elements of right-wing extremism tied to the protests around the country, where Confederate, QAnon and Trump flags had cropped up. Conspiracy theorists could be found milling about Parliament, too: people who believed big Pharma created the coronavirus in order to make money on vaccines or that QR codes allow the government to police our thoughts. But the protests drew in thousands of people on some weekends, many of them just frustrated Canadians who didn’t want to be forced to get a vaccine or were just fed up with the pandemic and its restrictions. The majority of the more than $8 million donated to the truckers through GiveSendGo came from Canada, a data leak showed. Trucker after trucker said this was his or her first protest. Michael Johnson, 53, parked his fire-engine-red truck in front of Parliament after his son suggested they drive in with the convoy. He stayed there until the very end. “When we turned our headlights toward Ottawa, I don’t think any of us knew what we were driving into,” Johnson said. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until I got here.” Johnson never got vaccinated and didn’t have to — hauling scrap metal around northern Ontario doesn’t require crossing the border. And he said he recently became a supporter of the right-wing People’s Party of Canada. But he believes the coronavirus is real and when people knocked on the door of his cab to talk about conspiracy theories, he refused to engage. “That’s not why I’m here,” he said. “It’s a distraction.” Every 10 minutes or so, someone stopped by to drop off money, give him a hug, or thank him. Johnson has heard stories of people who lost their jobs because they don’t want to get vaccinated. His cab is plastered with appreciation letters from people who have told him that the movement made them feel, for once, that they weren’t crazy or alone. “Telling people you either get this or you lose your jobs or you can’t go to places — it’s segregation,” Johnson said. Carmen Celestini, a postdoctoral fellow at the Disinformation Project at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, said that kind of protester, “the genuine people who are anti-vaccine,” has been overlooked throughout the occupation. “Their voices have been ignored in much of this,” Celestini said, adding that, “because we keep shoving that underneath name-calling and not engaging, it’s going to fester.” Johnson’s truck is the most valuable thing that he owns, and it is his livelihood. The risk of losing it left him anxious. When the police started closing in, his uncle and aunt begged him to go home. “The realization of what I might lose from all this,” he said, “that’s scary.” There was a part of him that wanted the stakeout to just end. But he refused to pack up early. “I’m too far in now,” he said, “If we show fear, everyone else will lose momentum.” On Saturday, police finally reached his door. A man walked up to shake his hand through the window one more time. Johnson walked out with his hands in the air, surrendering himself and his truck to the authorities. A crush of supporters let out a cheer. “We love you,” several people yelled. Johnson was forced out of the protest along with everyone else gathered in front of Parliament. But he vowed to keep fighting. “Now,” he said, “they’ve woken me up.”

After trucker protest, Canada grapples with a question: Was it a blip, or something bigger?

After facing a major <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-marvel-actress-evangeline-lilly-against-covid-vaccine-mandate-this-is-not-safe-448358">backlash</a> for her stance on the Covid-19 vaccine, Marvel actress Evangeline Lilly is again in the headlines.&nbsp; 
 
Now, Evangeline is calling out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speak with groups protesting over vaccine mandates in the country. 
In the video, that has been doing the rounds on the internet, Lilly can be seen requesting Prime Minister Trudeau to sit down and talk about the situation.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-director-james-gunn--peacemaker-star-jennifer-holland-are-engaged-454943" hreflang="en">Director James Gunn &amp; 'Peacemaker' star Jennifer Holland are engaged!</a> 
 
"I want to speak to you today about your current approach to and current treatment of our fellow Canadians who are protesting your federal vaccine mandates. They have asked to meet with you, prime minister, medical experts, top scientists, doctors, nurses, parents, grandparents, intelligent, loving, concerned citizens," she said in the clip.

<a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/even-as-threats-of-assault-civil-war-fly-musk-praises-anti-vaccine-canadian-truckers-rolling-toward-ottawa-448472" hreflang="en">Even as threats of assault &amp; civil war fly, Musk praises anti-vaccine Canadian truckers rolling toward Ottawa</a> 
 
She then directly asked, "Why won`t you sit with them?"&nbsp; 
 
“If you’re so convinced of your own reasons for the mandates, sit down and walk the leaders of a group of 2.3 million protesters across the country who represent many millions more across the nation, and explain it to them and ask them to listen with open hearts and minds, and then reciprocate. Listen to what they have to say with a mind open to hearing things that might go against the ideas you are entrenched in.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-man-arrested-outside-the-white-lotus-star-alexandra-daddarios-home-454933" hreflang="en">Man arrested outside 'The White Lotus' star Alexandra Daddario's home</a> 
 
The protests across Canada began in January, with thousands of truckers and hundreds of other demonstrators converging on Ottawa to express strong opposition to vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the US-Canada border. Protesters demanded that the authorities remove COVID-19 restrictions. 
 
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadas-emergencies-act-heres-how-justin-trudeau-govt-will-quell-protests-453482">announced</a> to invoke the country's Emergencies Act.

(With inputs from agencies)

After facing a major backlash for her stance on the Covid-19 vaccine, Marvel actress Evangeline Lilly is again in the headlines. Now, Evangeline is calling out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speak with groups protesting over vaccine mandates in the country.

After facing a major backlash for her stance on the Covid-19 vaccine, Marvel actress Evangeline Lilly is again in the headlines. Now, Evangeline is calling out Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speak with groups protesting over vaccine mandates in the country. In the video, that has been doing the rounds on the internet, Lilly can be seen requesting Prime Minister Trudeau to sit down and talk about the situation. Director James Gunn & 'Peacemaker' star Jennifer Holland are engaged! "I want to speak to you today about your current approach to and current treatment of our fellow Canadians who are protesting your federal vaccine mandates. They have asked to meet with you, prime minister, medical experts, top scientists, doctors, nurses, parents, grandparents, intelligent, loving, concerned citizens," she said in the clip. Even as threats of assault & civil war fly, Musk praises anti-vaccine Canadian truckers rolling toward Ottawa She then directly asked, "Why won`t you sit with them?" “If you’re so convinced of your own reasons for the mandates, sit down and walk the leaders of a group of 2.3 million protesters across the country who represent many millions more across the nation, and explain it to them and ask them to listen with open hearts and minds, and then reciprocate. Listen to what they have to say with a mind open to hearing things that might go against the ideas you are entrenched in.” Man arrested outside 'The White Lotus' star Alexandra Daddario's home The protests across Canada began in January, with thousands of truckers and hundreds of other demonstrators converging on Ottawa to express strong opposition to vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the US-Canada border. Protesters demanded that the authorities remove COVID-19 restrictions. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to invoke the country's Emergencies Act. (With inputs from agencies)

Evangeline Lilly urges Justin Trudeau to speak with vaccine mandate protestors

Canadian police on Saturday (February 19) used batons and pepper spray in an attempt to remove the demonstrators who are currently occupying the streets of Ottawa to protest against pandemic restrictions. Police have also made dozens of arrests.&nbsp;

It's been more than three weeks, protestors have paralyzed the Canadian capital by parking and camping on the streets.&nbsp;

Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said on Saturday said, "This operation is still moving forward. It is not over and it will take more time until we have achieved our goals."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-planning-biggest-war-since-1945-says-boris-johnson-454778">Russia planning biggest war since 1945, says Boris Johnson</a>

As per reports by news agencies, police have made 170 arrests and towed 53 vehicles since they began efforts to bust up the protest on Friday. The action required Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke rarely used emergency powers.&nbsp;

Despite the latest crackdown, some protesters are still there. The police said that some of those arrested on Saturday wore body armour. The police also informed that some protesters carried smoke grenades and other fireworks. &nbsp;

The demonstrations started as the protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers.&nbsp;

However, the blockade turned into a demonstration against Trudeau and the government.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-from-floods-landslides-climbs-to-146-in-brazil-454774">Death toll from floods, landslides climbs to 146 in Brazil</a>

"Police are making their way through the streets methodically and responsibly. This is encouraging, but the work is not yet done," Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Saturday.&nbsp;

Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell further stated that protesters, who have been filmed by police, will be held accountable. "We will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. ... This investigation will go on for months to come," he said.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian police on Saturday (February 19) used batons and pepper spray in an attempt to remove the demonstrators who are currently occupying the streets of Ottawa to protest against pandemic restrictions.

Canadian police on Saturday (February 19) used batons and pepper spray in an attempt to remove the demonstrators who are currently occupying the streets of Ottawa to protest against pandemic restrictions. Police have also made dozens of arrests. It's been more than three weeks, protestors have paralyzed the Canadian capital by parking and camping on the streets. Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said on Saturday said, "This operation is still moving forward. It is not over and it will take more time until we have achieved our goals." ALSO READ | Russia planning biggest war since 1945, says Boris Johnson As per reports by news agencies, police have made 170 arrests and towed 53 vehicles since they began efforts to bust up the protest on Friday. The action required Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke rarely used emergency powers. Despite the latest crackdown, some protesters are still there. The police said that some of those arrested on Saturday wore body armour. The police also informed that some protesters carried smoke grenades and other fireworks. The demonstrations started as the protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers. However, the blockade turned into a demonstration against Trudeau and the government. ALSO READ | Death toll from floods, landslides climbs to 146 in Brazil "Police are making their way through the streets methodically and responsibly. This is encouraging, but the work is not yet done," Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said on Saturday. Ottawa's Interim Police Chief Steve Bell further stated that protesters, who have been filmed by police, will be held accountable. "We will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. ... This investigation will go on for months to come," he said. × (With inputs from agencies)

Batons, pepper spray and arrests: Canadian police attempt to end weeks-long protest in Ottawa

Canadian police officers face off with protestors on Parliament Hill, as they work to restore normality to the capital while trucks and demonstrators continue to occupy the downtown core for more than three weeks to protest against pandemic restrictions in Ottawa.

Canada truckers protest: Cops continue crackdown with baton, pepper spray

Protesters in Canada clashed with police personnel amid the ongoing truckers’ protest in the country. Deputy Prime Minister of Canada said the protests are a foreign-funded threat.

Watch: Protesters in Canada clash with police amid ongoing truckers protest

As per the top Canadian ministers, the protesters must leave and should not be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments."&nbsp;

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that these illegal blockades and occupations cannot be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments."&nbsp;

"They cannot be allowed to threaten peace, order and good government, and they will not be allowed to do so. These illegal blockades and occupations will end, and they will end for good," she said.&nbsp;

This comes in as the police in Ottawa have made several arrests regarding the “freedom convoy" protests. While some protestors surrendered and were taken into custody, others were seen being taken away in handcuffs.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pics-canadian-police-starts-arresting-protesters-few-surrendered-others-were-taken-into-custody-454409#arrests-begin-454399">Also read |&nbsp;Pics: Canadian police starts arresting protesters; few surrendered, others were taken into custody</a>

The arrests were made after the Ottawa police made it clear on Thursday they were preparing to end the protests and remove more than 300 trucks.

The city’s interim police chief warned that “action is imminent."

The demonstrators, who were blocking Ottawa streets for the past 20 days have been given an ultimatum by the police: leave or be arrested.&nbsp;

"You must leave the area now," read a notice issued by Ottawa police. Police also warned that anyone who was charged or convicted for taking part in the illegal demonstration could also face travel bans to the United States.

Ottawa interim police chief Steve Bell said that a methodical and well-resourced plan would be implemented over the coming days "to take back the entirety of the downtown core and every occupied space."

"Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not what we are used to seeing in Ottawa," he said.

"But we are prepared to use them... to restore order."

(With inputs from agencies)

As per the top Canadian ministers, the protesters must leave and should not be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that these illegal blockades and occupations cannot be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments.

As per the top Canadian ministers, the protesters must leave and should not be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that these illegal blockades and occupations cannot be allowed to "usurp the authority of democratically elected governments." "They cannot be allowed to threaten peace, order and good government, and they will not be allowed to do so. These illegal blockades and occupations will end, and they will end for good," she said. This comes in as the police in Ottawa have made several arrests regarding the “freedom convoy" protests. While some protestors surrendered and were taken into custody, others were seen being taken away in handcuffs. Also read | Pics: Canadian police starts arresting protesters; few surrendered, others were taken into custody The arrests were made after the Ottawa police made it clear on Thursday they were preparing to end the protests and remove more than 300 trucks. The city’s interim police chief warned that “action is imminent." The demonstrators, who were blocking Ottawa streets for the past 20 days have been given an ultimatum by the police: leave or be arrested. "You must leave the area now," read a notice issued by Ottawa police. Police also warned that anyone who was charged or convicted for taking part in the illegal demonstration could also face travel bans to the United States. Ottawa interim police chief Steve Bell said that a methodical and well-resourced plan would be implemented over the coming days "to take back the entirety of the downtown core and every occupied space." "Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not what we are used to seeing in Ottawa," he said. "But we are prepared to use them... to restore order." (With inputs from agencies)

Protests must not 'usurp the authority of democratically elected governments': Canadian ministers

Canada Truckers Protest: Police arrest 77 demonstrators in Ottawa

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers to quell the protests by truckers and others angry over Canada's COVID-19 restrictions. Trudeau called Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat'

Pics: Canadian police starts arresting protesters; few surrendered, others were taken into custody

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

The drivers, joined by thousands of demonstrators and some 400 vehicles, turned the streets around Parliament into a noisy party zone since first arriving on Jan. 28, in what has become one of the worst crises to hit Trudeau since he took power in 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-just-look-dumb-elon-musk-compares-trudeau-to-hitler-later-deletes-the-tweet-heres-what-he-said-454172">'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said</a>

Police made a handful of arrests Thursday evening, including of Chris Barber, one of the main fundraisers and organisers, after authorities said action was imminent. Barber went without resistance after police told him he was being arrested for mischief.

"We absolutely are committed to end this unlawful demonstration. We have the plan, we have the commitment, we have the resources," interim police chief Steve Bell told reporters on Thursday.&nbsp;Police will set up a perimeter with 100 checkpoints around downtown to stop people without legitimate reason from entering, he said.

"This weekend will look very different than the past three weekends," he added. Previous chief Peter Sloly quit this week amid residents' fury about what they saw as police inaction.

The truckers' protests started against vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers, a measure in place in the United States, too. But slowly it spread across Canada and morphed into an anti-government movement. Protesters blocked several land crossings with the United States, including the busiest, the Ambassador Bridge which connects to Detroit, for six days, hurting both economies.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/police-issue-an-ultimatum-to-canada-trucker-protestors-leave-capital-or-be-arrested-453881">Police issues ultimatum to Canada truck protestors: Leave capital or be arrested</a>

Calling the blockades a threat to democracy, Trudeau invoked emergency measures on Monday giving his government temporary powers to end the unrest. Government officials said they were worried about extremists causing violence.

Many protesters on Parliament Hill said they would not leave until their demands were met.

"End the mandates, give us our rights and this is over," said Chris Dacey on Thursday. "We'll all go back to our families."

The border blockades turned the pressure on Trudeau to act swiftly, and US&nbsp;President Joe Biden asked him to use federal powers.

"The illegal blockades and occupations have to stop and the borders have to remain open," Trudeau told legislators on Thursday as Parliament started debate on the Emergencies Act, which needs to be passed within seven days of an announcement.

Watch |&nbsp;Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-calls-freedom-convoy-protest-an-economic-threat-454179/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But the official opposition Conservative Party says there was no need for the Emergencies Act, especially since the border blockades are over. Conservative Parliamentarian Jeremy Patzer told the House of Commons on Thursday that people around the world were alarmed to see Trudeau "come down on peaceful protesters with a sledgehammer."

"It is absolutely shameful," he added.

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers for the first time in more than 50 years. The drivers, joined by thousands of demonstrators and some 400 vehicles, turned the streets around Parliament into a noisy party zone since first arriving on Jan. 28, in what has become one of the worst crises to hit Trudeau since he took power in 2015. Also read | 'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said Police made a handful of arrests Thursday evening, including of Chris Barber, one of the main fundraisers and organisers, after authorities said action was imminent. Barber went without resistance after police told him he was being arrested for mischief. "We absolutely are committed to end this unlawful demonstration. We have the plan, we have the commitment, we have the resources," interim police chief Steve Bell told reporters on Thursday. Police will set up a perimeter with 100 checkpoints around downtown to stop people without legitimate reason from entering, he said. "This weekend will look very different than the past three weekends," he added. Previous chief Peter Sloly quit this week amid residents' fury about what they saw as police inaction. The truckers' protests started against vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers, a measure in place in the United States, too. But slowly it spread across Canada and morphed into an anti-government movement. Protesters blocked several land crossings with the United States, including the busiest, the Ambassador Bridge which connects to Detroit, for six days, hurting both economies. Also read | Police issues ultimatum to Canada truck protestors: Leave capital or be arrested Calling the blockades a threat to democracy, Trudeau invoked emergency measures on Monday giving his government temporary powers to end the unrest. Government officials said they were worried about extremists causing violence. Many protesters on Parliament Hill said they would not leave until their demands were met. "End the mandates, give us our rights and this is over," said Chris Dacey on Thursday. "We'll all go back to our families." The border blockades turned the pressure on Trudeau to act swiftly, and US President Joe Biden asked him to use federal powers. "The illegal blockades and occupations have to stop and the borders have to remain open," Trudeau told legislators on Thursday as Parliament started debate on the Emergencies Act, which needs to be passed within seven days of an announcement. Watch | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls Freedom Convoy protest an 'Economic threat' But the official opposition Conservative Party says there was no need for the Emergencies Act, especially since the border blockades are over. Conservative Parliamentarian Jeremy Patzer told the House of Commons on Thursday that people around the world were alarmed to see Trudeau "come down on peaceful protesters with a sledgehammer." "It is absolutely shameful," he added.

Canada police set to end siege of capital by protesters fighting COVID measures

Canada's capital continues to remain paralyzed for over three weeks now as truckers refuse to leave protest sites, this even after Ottawa police started handing out notices.

No end to freedom convoy protest in Ottawa; police threatens arrest, license revocation

Demonstrators blocking Ottawa streets for the past 20 days have been given an ultimatum by the police: leave or be arrested.

In the meantime, US state leaders have called on the government to end the requirement for vaccines across the border that sparked the protests.

Meanwhile, officials announced a peaceful end to the latest of several protest blockades at border crossings between Canada and the US.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/haircuts-hot-tubs-and-hapless-police-heres-how-the-canada-truckers-protest-is-faring-453667">Haircuts, hot tubs and hapless police: Canada trucker's protest continues unfazed after emergency</a>

"You must leave the area now," Ottawa police said in a notice distributed to truckers outside parliament.&nbsp;

According to the statement, anyone who blocks streets or assists others in doing so will be arrested, fined, and their trucks seized.

Police also warned that anyone who was charged or convicted for taking part in the illegal demonstration could also face travel bans to the United States.

Hundreds of trucks continued to occupy streets in the parliamentary precinct even as the notices were passed out, blaring their horns in defiance of an extension Wednesday of a court order against the noise.

There are still a lot of trucks holding the line, said trucker David Shaw, 65. If arrested, he added: "I'll keep coming back."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-unmarked-indigenous-graves-found-at-yet-another-canadian-school-more-that-1300-graves-since-may-2021-453607">More unmarked indigenous graves found at yet another Canadian school; 1300 graves since May 2021</a>

Jan Grouin, a fellow protester, decried Justin Trudeau's decision to impose a state of emergency, saying it was "a little overreacting maybe to think that we are terrorists."

Ottawa interim police chief Steve Bell said a methodical and well-resourced plan would be implemented over the coming days "to take back the entirety of the downtown core and every occupied space."

"Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not what we are used to seeing in Ottawa," he said. "But we are prepared to use them... to restore order."

Greg Gianforte, the governor of Montana, asked Canadian and US leaders in a letter signed by 16 Republican US governors to exempt truckers from having to take vaccines and abide by quarantine requirements when crossing the border between the two countries.

Watch |&nbsp;Canada: Opposition heckles Trudeau in Parliament after invoking emergency powers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/canada-opposition-heckles-trudeau-in-parliament-after-invoking-emergency-powers-453630/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

They were joined by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who has endorsed the truckers' convoy.

"The timing of your decision to terminate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions could not have been worse, as North America already faces grave supply chain constraints," said the letter addressed to US President Joe Biden and Trudeau.

"These constraints, combined with increasing inflation, place significant burdens on the residents of Canada and the United States."

(With inputs from agencies)

Demonstrators blocking Ottawa streets for the past 20 days have been given an ultimatum by the police: leave or be arrested. In the meantime, US state leaders have called on the government to end the requirement for vaccines across the border that sparked the protests.

Demonstrators blocking Ottawa streets for the past 20 days have been given an ultimatum by the police: leave or be arrested. In the meantime, US state leaders have called on the government to end the requirement for vaccines across the border that sparked the protests. Meanwhile, officials announced a peaceful end to the latest of several protest blockades at border crossings between Canada and the US. Also read | Haircuts, hot tubs and hapless police: Canada trucker's protest continues unfazed after emergency "You must leave the area now," Ottawa police said in a notice distributed to truckers outside parliament. According to the statement, anyone who blocks streets or assists others in doing so will be arrested, fined, and their trucks seized. Police also warned that anyone who was charged or convicted for taking part in the illegal demonstration could also face travel bans to the United States. Hundreds of trucks continued to occupy streets in the parliamentary precinct even as the notices were passed out, blaring their horns in defiance of an extension Wednesday of a court order against the noise. There are still a lot of trucks holding the line, said trucker David Shaw, 65. If arrested, he added: "I'll keep coming back." Also read | More unmarked indigenous graves found at yet another Canadian school; 1300 graves since May 2021 Jan Grouin, a fellow protester, decried Justin Trudeau's decision to impose a state of emergency, saying it was "a little overreacting maybe to think that we are terrorists." Ottawa interim police chief Steve Bell said a methodical and well-resourced plan would be implemented over the coming days "to take back the entirety of the downtown core and every occupied space." "Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not what we are used to seeing in Ottawa," he said. "But we are prepared to use them... to restore order." Greg Gianforte, the governor of Montana, asked Canadian and US leaders in a letter signed by 16 Republican US governors to exempt truckers from having to take vaccines and abide by quarantine requirements when crossing the border between the two countries. Watch | Canada: Opposition heckles Trudeau in Parliament after invoking emergency powers They were joined by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who has endorsed the truckers' convoy. "The timing of your decision to terminate the vaccine and quarantine exemptions could not have been worse, as North America already faces grave supply chain constraints," said the letter addressed to US President Joe Biden and Trudeau. "These constraints, combined with increasing inflation, place significant burdens on the residents of Canada and the United States." (With inputs from agencies)

Police issues ultimatum to Canada truck protestors: Leave capital or be arrested

Justin Trudeau was heckled in parliament after he tried to defend his bid to invoke emergency powers. Will an extreme crackdown trigger a violent response from anti-vaxxers? Palki Sharma tells you why Trudeau must take responsibility for this mess.

Gravitas: Trudeau heckled in parliament amid Emergency bid

Canadian protesters have refused to move out despite an emergency act imposed in the country. The country police have started warning demonstrators to end the blockade in Ottawa or face arrest.

Truckers Protest: Tensions mount in Ottawa as police issue warnings to demonstrators

Canada beat the United States 3-2 to win the women’s ice hockey final at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday, reclaiming the gold medal the Americans had taken from them four years ago in Pyeongchang.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice, including the game-winner, after Canadian sharpshooter Sarah Nurse got the team going midway through the first period, as an outgunned U.S. team recorded 40 shots on goal to Canada’s 21 across the entire affair but were unable to convert where it counted.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kamila-valieva-recieves-loud-cheers-breaks-down-after-returning-to-action-for-1st-time-since-doping-scandal-453839">Kamila Valieva receives loud cheers, breaks down after returning to action for 1st time since doping scandal</a>

Four-time Olympian Hilary Knight got the United States on the board with a shorthanded effort with less than four minutes to go in the second and the Americans converted on a power play with 13 seconds to go in the third after pulling their goalie.

Finland defeated Switzerland the previous day to take bronze.

Canada beat the United States 3-2 to win the women’s ice hockey final at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday, reclaiming the gold medal the Americans had taken from them four years ago in Pyeongchang.

Canada beat the United States 3-2 to win the women’s ice hockey final at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday, reclaiming the gold medal the Americans had taken from them four years ago in Pyeongchang. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice, including the game-winner, after Canadian sharpshooter Sarah Nurse got the team going midway through the first period, as an outgunned U.S. team recorded 40 shots on goal to Canada’s 21 across the entire affair but were unable to convert where it counted. ALSO READ: Kamila Valieva receives loud cheers, breaks down after returning to action for 1st time since doping scandal Four-time Olympian Hilary Knight got the United States on the board with a shorthanded effort with less than four minutes to go in the second and the Americans converted on a power play with 13 seconds to go in the third after pulling their goalie. Finland defeated Switzerland the previous day to take bronze.

Beijing Winter Olympics: Canada reclaims gold medal, U.S. settles for silver in ice hockey

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced heckling in the House of Commons after he invoked the rarely used emergency powers against the ongoing truckers protests. It is only the second time Canadian history that such powers have been invoked in peace time.

Canada: Opposition heckles Trudeau in Parliament after invoking emergency powers

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