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

Triggering a storm on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that apparently expressed support for truckers protesting vaccine mandates.

The tweet was sent by Musk just before midnight on Wednesday in California and was deleted by noon on Thursday, with no explanation. Musk is yet to comment on the whole incident.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-donated-tesla-shares-worth-57-billion-to-charity-last-year-453478">Elon Musk donated Tesla shares worth $5.7 billion to charity last year</a>

Founder and CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk tweeted support for Canadian truckers who had shut down roads and bridges in late January, drawing international attention to their opposition to Trudeau's health policies.

Musk responded to a tweet that described how Trudeau's government had ordered banks to cut funding to protesters by posting a meme of Adolf Hitler, with "Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau" written over his head and "I had a budget" below it.

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The tweet came as Tesla and Musk accused the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday of conducting an "endless" investigation as a punishment for Musk's criticism of the US government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-investigates-416000-tesla-vehicles-over-unexpected-braking-reports-454070">US investigates 416,000 Tesla vehicles over unexpected braking reports</a>

74 million people follow Musk on Twitter, making him one of its most prominent users. For electric car maker Tesla, that's often seen as a marketing boon.

Many Twitter users considered Musk's comparison of Trudeau with Hitler, who led the Nazis to genocide millions of Jews and started World War Two, to be too extreme. Musk is known for his edgy humour and blunt assessment, but many users found his comparison of Trudeau with Hitler to be far-fetched.

"@elonmusk making a disgusting comparison of Trudeau to Hitler. Don’t do this kind of stuff. You just look dumb," wrote @ElliotMalin. At midday on Thursday, in place of the original tweet was the notice "This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author."

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> making a disgusting comparison of Trudeau to Hitler. 
 
Don’t do this kind of stuff. You just look dumb. <a href="https://t.co/a3mcTai2Gw">https://t.co/a3mcTai2Gw</a>
— 𝔼𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟 (@ElliotMalin) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElliotMalin/status/1494319255461904385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Industry, responded to Musk on Twitter, saying his reported comments were "quite frankly shocking".

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To <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a>: 
 
Some of your comments &amp; comparisons reported in the media today are quite frankly shocking. 
 
Let me remind you what Canada &amp; Canadians stand for. 
 
Canadians value stability, predictability &amp; respect for the rule of law. We will always uphold these values.
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) <a href="https://twitter.com/FP_Champagne/status/1494408547928522752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In response to Musk's tweet, the American Jewish Committee called for an immediate apology.

However, before the deletion Musk's tweet was liked by more than 35,000 people, retweeted nearly 9,000 times, and received many positive responses.

Watch |&nbsp;SpaceX's Elon Musk shares simulation video 'Starship to Mars' depicting his plans for the red planet

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/spacexs-elon-musk-shares-simulation-video-starship-to-mars-depicting-his-plans-for-the-red-planet-454103/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Triggering a storm on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that apparently expressed support for truckers protesting vaccine mandates.

Triggering a storm on Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that apparently expressed support for truckers protesting vaccine mandates. The tweet was sent by Musk just before midnight on Wednesday in California and was deleted by noon on Thursday, with no explanation. Musk is yet to comment on the whole incident. Also read | Elon Musk donated Tesla shares worth $5.7 billion to charity last year Founder and CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk tweeted support for Canadian truckers who had shut down roads and bridges in late January, drawing international attention to their opposition to Trudeau's health policies. Musk responded to a tweet that described how Trudeau's government had ordered banks to cut funding to protesters by posting a meme of Adolf Hitler, with "Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau" written over his head and "I had a budget" below it. The tweet came as Tesla and Musk accused the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday of conducting an "endless" investigation as a punishment for Musk's criticism of the US government. Also read | US investigates 416,000 Tesla vehicles over unexpected braking reports 74 million people follow Musk on Twitter, making him one of its most prominent users. For electric car maker Tesla, that's often seen as a marketing boon. Many Twitter users considered Musk's comparison of Trudeau with Hitler, who led the Nazis to genocide millions of Jews and started World War Two, to be too extreme. Musk is known for his edgy humour and blunt assessment, but many users found his comparison of Trudeau with Hitler to be far-fetched. "@elonmusk making a disgusting comparison of Trudeau to Hitler. Don’t do this kind of stuff. You just look dumb," wrote @ElliotMalin. At midday on Thursday, in place of the original tweet was the notice "This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author." .@elonmusk making a disgusting comparison of Trudeau to Hitler. Don’t do this kind of stuff. You just look dumb. https://t.co/a3mcTai2Gw — 𝔼𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟 (@ElliotMalin) February 17, 2022 × Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Industry, responded to Musk on Twitter, saying his reported comments were "quite frankly shocking". To @elonmusk: Some of your comments & comparisons reported in the media today are quite frankly shocking. Let me remind you what Canada & Canadians stand for. Canadians value stability, predictability & respect for the rule of law. We will always uphold these values. — François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) February 17, 2022 × In response to Musk's tweet, the American Jewish Committee called for an immediate apology. However, before the deletion Musk's tweet was liked by more than 35,000 people, retweeted nearly 9,000 times, and received many positive responses. Watch | SpaceX's Elon Musk shares simulation video 'Starship to Mars' depicting his plans for the red planet (With inputs from agencies)

'You just look dumb': Elon Musk compares Trudeau to Hitler, later deletes the tweet. Here's what he said

Justin Trudeau accused the opposition of standing with "people who wave swastikas". Jewish lawmaker Melissa Lantsman has demanded an apology. A prominent Hindu group said Trudeau's "misrepresentation" will lead to hate crimes against Hindus. Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Freedom Convoy Protests: Trudeau "upsets" Hindus

After failing to distinguish between the Swastika and Adolf Hitler's 'Hakenkreuz,' or hooked cross, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian-origin lawmaker Jagmeet Singh created a new dispute.&nbsp;

A prominent Hindu organisation in the United States has advised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian-origin lawmaker Jagmeet Singh not to mix the "Swastika," an old and auspicious symbol for Hindus, with the "Hakenkreuz," a Nazi symbol of hatred from the 20th century.

"Swastikas and Confederate flags have no place in Canada," New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted amid major protests by hundreds of truck drivers over Canada's COVID-19 regulations. &nbsp;

Both Trudeau and Singh have recently made statements accusing demonstrators of "waving Swastikas."

The HinduPACT (Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective) has responded by urging Trudeau and Singh not to conflate the "Swastika," an ancient and auspicious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists, and many indigenous communities around the world, with the "Hakenkreuz," a Nazi symbol of hatred from the twentieth century.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="Swastika and Hakenkreuz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cd666ecf-6fcd-4b19-ae63-7c0c8e34ed29" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_224.jpg" /> 
 
(Picture courtesy: hindupact.org)

What is the difference between Swastika and Hakenkreuz?

The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit roots su (good) and asti (to prevail), and it has been employed in the Rig Veda's prayers, which indicate well-being, prosperity, or good fortune.

It is claimed to represent the four yugas, or cyclical seasons, the four ends or objectives of life, the four stages of existence, and the four Vedas in Hindu philosophy. In some places in India, Swastika is even a girl's name.&nbsp;

Swastika is typically made of flowers or written in red, yellow, or blue ink or paint.

As a result, it can be found in a variety of temples and religious ceremonies all over the world, as well as as a welcome sign in many South Asian households.&nbsp;

The "hakenkreuz," on the other hand, is generally recognised as a symbol of anti-Semitism, as Nazi persecution resulted in the deaths of about 11 million Jews during the Holocaust, and it represents trauma for many people today.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Freedom Convoy Protests: Trudeau "upsets" Hindus

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-freedom-convoy-protests-trudeau-upsets-hindus-454151/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
Watch | Gravitas: Why is the Swastika reviled by the west?

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(With inputs from agencies)

After failing to distinguish between the Swastika and Adolf Hitler's 'Hakenkreuz,' or hooked cross, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian-origin lawmaker Jagmeet Singh created a new dispute.

After failing to distinguish between the Swastika and Adolf Hitler's 'Hakenkreuz,' or hooked cross, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian-origin lawmaker Jagmeet Singh created a new dispute. A prominent Hindu organisation in the United States has advised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian-origin lawmaker Jagmeet Singh not to mix the "Swastika," an old and auspicious symbol for Hindus, with the "Hakenkreuz," a Nazi symbol of hatred from the 20th century. "Swastikas and Confederate flags have no place in Canada," New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted amid major protests by hundreds of truck drivers over Canada's COVID-19 regulations. Both Trudeau and Singh have recently made statements accusing demonstrators of "waving Swastikas." The HinduPACT (Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective) has responded by urging Trudeau and Singh not to conflate the "Swastika," an ancient and auspicious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists, and many indigenous communities around the world, with the "Hakenkreuz," a Nazi symbol of hatred from the twentieth century. (Picture courtesy: hindupact.org) What is the difference between Swastika and Hakenkreuz? The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit roots su (good) and asti (to prevail), and it has been employed in the Rig Veda's prayers, which indicate well-being, prosperity, or good fortune. It is claimed to represent the four yugas, or cyclical seasons, the four ends or objectives of life, the four stages of existence, and the four Vedas in Hindu philosophy. In some places in India, Swastika is even a girl's name. Swastika is typically made of flowers or written in red, yellow, or blue ink or paint. As a result, it can be found in a variety of temples and religious ceremonies all over the world, as well as as a welcome sign in many South Asian households. The "hakenkreuz," on the other hand, is generally recognised as a symbol of anti-Semitism, as Nazi persecution resulted in the deaths of about 11 million Jews during the Holocaust, and it represents trauma for many people today. Watch | Gravitas: Freedom Convoy Protests: Trudeau "upsets" Hindus Watch | Gravitas: Why is the Swastika reviled by the west? (With inputs from agencies)

Mr. Justin Trudeau, you are wrong about the Swastika: Here are the facts

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

Justin Trudeau invoked emergency provisions amid the arrest of armed anti-vax protesters near the US border. What are Trudeau's emergency powers? Are Canadians supporting this move? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Trudeau invokes emergency powers to crush anti-vaxxers

Canada, which is heavily reliant on migrants as workforce, has set an ambitious plan to welcome over 1.3 million immigrants over the course of three years.

On Monday, the Justin Trudeau government announced its new immigration-level plans 2022-24 with an aim to help Canada’s economy recover from the COVID-19 onslaught.

Under the plan, Canada aims to add more than 431,000 permanent residents this year, 447,000 in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024.

Figures for this year and 2023 have been revised higher from earlier targets of 411,000 and 421,000, respectively.

“Immigration has helped shape Canada into the country it is today,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement.

“We are focused on economic recovery, and immigration is the key to getting there.”

Immigration had been one of the key drivers of Canada’s economy and accounts for almost all of the nation’s employment growth.

Last year, Canada welcomed more than 405,000 newcomers, the largest single-year increase in its history.

Indians account for the biggest nationality gaining permanent residency in Canada, accounting for about 60 per cent of the total number, according to the 2021 Annual Report on Immigration that was tabled in Canada Parliament this week.

The onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had a massive effect on the country’s immigration process, but of the 184,606 permanent residents admitted that year, Indians accounted for 42,876, or 23 per cent of the total, followed by China at 16,535.

The latest announcement on immigration plans come at a time when Trudeau has been facing heat over a delay in clearing out visa applications for around 2 million people.

As of February 1, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has shown that the country has a backlog of 1.8 million.

According to media reports, the backlog includes applications from future citizens, permanent residents, international students, temporary workers, and visitors.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canada, which is heavily reliant on migrants as workforce, has set an ambitious plan to welcome over 1.3 million immigrants over the course of three years. On Monday, the Justin Trudeau government announced its new immigration-level plans 2022-24 with an aim to help Canada’s economy recover from the COVID-19 onslaught.

Canada, which is heavily reliant on migrants as workforce, has set an ambitious plan to welcome over 1.3 million immigrants over the course of three years. On Monday, the Justin Trudeau government announced its new immigration-level plans 2022-24 with an aim to help Canada’s economy recover from the COVID-19 onslaught. Under the plan, Canada aims to add more than 431,000 permanent residents this year, 447,000 in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024. Figures for this year and 2023 have been revised higher from earlier targets of 411,000 and 421,000, respectively. “Immigration has helped shape Canada into the country it is today,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement. “We are focused on economic recovery, and immigration is the key to getting there.” Immigration had been one of the key drivers of Canada’s economy and accounts for almost all of the nation’s employment growth. Last year, Canada welcomed more than 405,000 newcomers, the largest single-year increase in its history. Indians account for the biggest nationality gaining permanent residency in Canada, accounting for about 60 per cent of the total number, according to the 2021 Annual Report on Immigration that was tabled in Canada Parliament this week. The onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had a massive effect on the country’s immigration process, but of the 184,606 permanent residents admitted that year, Indians accounted for 42,876, or 23 per cent of the total, followed by China at 16,535. The latest announcement on immigration plans come at a time when Trudeau has been facing heat over a delay in clearing out visa applications for around 2 million people. As of February 1, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has shown that the country has a backlog of 1.8 million. According to media reports, the backlog includes applications from future citizens, permanent residents, international students, temporary workers, and visitors. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada sets up ambitious immigration policy, plans to add 1.3 million in three years

Haircuts, hot tubs and hapless police: Canada trucker's protest continues unfazed after emergency

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency powers to quell the protests by truckers and others angry over Canada's COVID-19 restrictions.

PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers, rules out military in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he will activate rarely used emergency powers, including cutting off financing, to end protests that have shut some border crossings and paralyzed parts of the capital.

PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers to quell truckers' protest in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked emergency measure for the first time in country's history. Trudeau invoked measure to give his govt more power to respond to ongoing anti-govt trucker protests. Emergencies Act allows federal govt to take 'special temporary measures' for 30 days during national emergencies. Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to quell the protests by truckers. The Canadian government is being urged to do more to disperse protests which have led to incidents of harassment and violence in Ottawa.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers amid truckers protest. All you need to know

Aiming to cut off financial support for protesters who are staging blockades at border crossings, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to invoke the country's Emergencies Act.

Trudeau said he was invoking the Act for the first time since it became law in 1988 to negate the impact of ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests.

The protests began when a group of truckers moved into Ottawa, Canada's capital, on January 29, clogging the streets surrounding the Parliament building and other areas of downtown in opposition to a new mandate requiring them to be fully vaccinated when crossing the Canadian-US border or face a two-week quarantine.

The demonstrations shut a main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was reopened on Sunday.

What is the Emergencies Act?

The rule gives the government temporary powers to impose special restrictions on public assembly and travel.&nbsp;It gives the federal government power to implement temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies.

A declaration of a public welfare emergency allows the government to regulate the distribution of essential goods, decide what are essential services, and impose fines on violations of the act. It sets out a compensation scheme for those who suffer damages as a result of its application.

Trudeau said the government is not overriding the charter of rights and freedoms, nor limiting the right to peaceful assembly.

"We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally," he added.

What are the key provisions of the act?

Financial institutions will now have the power to freeze personal or corporate accounts they believe are being used to fund illegal protests.

The government is also taking action on crowd-funding sites and the payment service providers they use, requiring them to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and report any large suspicious donations, including digital payments and cryptocurrencies.

The government said that some sites have raised millions of dollars.

The act will broaden the scope of the government's anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules to cover crowdfunding platforms.

The emergency measures would also allow the government to order towing companies to provide their services to clear blockades.

Trudeau said the measures would be “geographically specific and targeted only to where they are needed.” They will also be “time limited”.

How many times has the Emergencies Act been imposed?

The Emergencies Act, earlier known as the War Measures Act, has been used only three times in the country’s history.

The first time it was used during the two world wars and in 1970 by Trudeau's father, late prime minister Pierre Trudeau, after militant Quebec separatists kidnapped a British diplomat and a provincial Cabinet minister.

Justin Trudeau considered using the act at the start of the pandemic.

How can the act be invoked?

The Canadian Parliament needs to approve the act, once promulgated, within seven days of the government invoking the emergency measures. Parliament also has the power to revoke its approval.

Trudeau's Liberal minority government needs help from the opposition to pass his use of the act in Parliament.

On Monday, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh said his left-leaning party would be willing to back the move if it means ending the protests.

Any temporary laws made under the act can be challenged in court and are subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada's Constitution.

(With inputs from agencies)

Aiming to cut off financial support for protesters who are staging blockades at border crossings, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to invoke the country's Emergencies Act.

Aiming to cut off financial support for protesters who are staging blockades at border crossings, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to invoke the country's Emergencies Act. Trudeau said he was invoking the Act for the first time since it became law in 1988 to negate the impact of ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests. The protests began when a group of truckers moved into Ottawa, Canada's capital, on January 29, clogging the streets surrounding the Parliament building and other areas of downtown in opposition to a new mandate requiring them to be fully vaccinated when crossing the Canadian-US border or face a two-week quarantine. The demonstrations shut a main economic corridor between Canada and the United States for six days before it was reopened on Sunday. What is the Emergencies Act? The rule gives the government temporary powers to impose special restrictions on public assembly and travel. It gives the federal government power to implement temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies. A declaration of a public welfare emergency allows the government to regulate the distribution of essential goods, decide what are essential services, and impose fines on violations of the act. It sets out a compensation scheme for those who suffer damages as a result of its application. Trudeau said the government is not overriding the charter of rights and freedoms, nor limiting the right to peaceful assembly. "We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally," he added. What are the key provisions of the act? Financial institutions will now have the power to freeze personal or corporate accounts they believe are being used to fund illegal protests. The government is also taking action on crowd-funding sites and the payment service providers they use, requiring them to register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and report any large suspicious donations, including digital payments and cryptocurrencies. The government said that some sites have raised millions of dollars. The act will broaden the scope of the government's anti-money laundering and terrorist financing rules to cover crowdfunding platforms. The emergency measures would also allow the government to order towing companies to provide their services to clear blockades. Trudeau said the measures would be “geographically specific and targeted only to where they are needed.” They will also be “time limited”. How many times has the Emergencies Act been imposed? The Emergencies Act, earlier known as the War Measures Act, has been used only three times in the country’s history. The first time it was used during the two world wars and in 1970 by Trudeau's father, late prime minister Pierre Trudeau, after militant Quebec separatists kidnapped a British diplomat and a provincial Cabinet minister. Justin Trudeau considered using the act at the start of the pandemic. How can the act be invoked? The Canadian Parliament needs to approve the act, once promulgated, within seven days of the government invoking the emergency measures. Parliament also has the power to revoke its approval. Trudeau's Liberal minority government needs help from the opposition to pass his use of the act in Parliament. On Monday, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh said his left-leaning party would be willing to back the move if it means ending the protests. Any temporary laws made under the act can be challenged in court and are subject to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada's Constitution. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada’s Emergencies Act: Here’s how Justin Trudeau govt will quell protests

Since the anti-vaccine-mandated protest that began nearly two weeks ago Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that all options are on the table to end the blockade further emphasizing on how the government is still not contemplating sending in the army.

'Time to go home,' Canadian PM Justin Trudeau warns demonstrators

A Canadian court on Friday ordered protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge,&nbsp;a vital trade corridor between Canada and the United States,&nbsp;to leave right away, an official said.

"Injunction granted. Judge ruled that protestors must leave by 7:00 pm," tweeted Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ontario.

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Upping the stakes, President Joe Biden Friday reiterated his "concern" to Trudeau, telling him the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge and two other border crossings was having serious effects on US firms.

Addressing reporters in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said all options were "on the table" for ending the protests, though he stressed that calling in the military was a distant final resort, and "something to avoid having to do at all costs."

"This unlawful activity has to end and it will end," the prime minister said, adding that it was up to police to "enforce the law and protect public order."

The leader of Ontario, where police have avoided using force to disperse protesters, sought to build pressure on Friday by threatening C$100,000 fines and up to a year in prison for non-compliance.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/canadian-anti-vax-trucker-protest-fires-up-copycat-protests-451654">Canadian anti-vax trucker protest fires up copycat protests</a>

Convoy organisers said they were moved to protest by a federal government requirement that truck drivers be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a 14-day quarantine upon re-entry from the United States. However it’s a bilateral measure with the US imposing the same rule on January 22, meaning that even if Canada ended the restriction, it would make no practical difference.

The demonstrators in Ottawa, Ontario and elsewhere are primarily demanding an end to all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions including mask requirements — though most of those were put in place by provincial governments. Protesters have called, too, for Trudeau’s resignation.

The “freedom convoy” was announced in early January by a group called Canada Unity, which was founded by James Bauder, a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theories. Also involved are Tamara Lich, who previously belonged to the far-right Maverick Party, which calls for western Canada to become independent; and a former member of Trudeau’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police security detail.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-trucker-protests-snarl-an-already-hobbled-auto-industry-452394" hreflang="en">Canadian trucker protests snarl an already hobbled auto industry</a>

Few actual commercial trucks are a part of the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday that the last count he had was five of them there, with the rest being personal cars: “Ninety-nine percent of the truckers are working their backs off. ... This is about a political statement, that’s what this is about.”

The protests have also been widely condemned by truckers and trucking groups. That includes the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which says the vast majority of drivers are fully vaccinated, in line with the country’s broader population.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest border crossing between Canada and the United States. Spanning the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the suspension bridge accounts for a whopping 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries, with $328 million (417 million Canadian dollars) in goods crossing each day.

The bridge is critical to the food sector in both countries as well as the auto industry; with crossings all but shut down, shortages have forced plants on both sides of the border to go offline or operate at reduced capacity.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Canadian court on Friday ordered protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge, a vital trade corridor between Canada and the United States, to leave right away, an official said.

A Canadian court on Friday ordered protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge, a vital trade corridor between Canada and the United States, to leave right away, an official said. "Injunction granted. Judge ruled that protestors must leave by 7:00 pm," tweeted Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ontario. Upping the stakes, President Joe Biden Friday reiterated his "concern" to Trudeau, telling him the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge and two other border crossings was having serious effects on US firms. Addressing reporters in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said all options were "on the table" for ending the protests, though he stressed that calling in the military was a distant final resort, and "something to avoid having to do at all costs." "This unlawful activity has to end and it will end," the prime minister said, adding that it was up to police to "enforce the law and protect public order." The leader of Ontario, where police have avoided using force to disperse protesters, sought to build pressure on Friday by threatening C$100,000 fines and up to a year in prison for non-compliance. Also see | Canadian anti-vax trucker protest fires up copycat protests Convoy organisers said they were moved to protest by a federal government requirement that truck drivers be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a 14-day quarantine upon re-entry from the United States. However it’s a bilateral measure with the US imposing the same rule on January 22, meaning that even if Canada ended the restriction, it would make no practical difference. The demonstrators in Ottawa, Ontario and elsewhere are primarily demanding an end to all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions including mask requirements — though most of those were put in place by provincial governments. Protesters have called, too, for Trudeau’s resignation. The “freedom convoy” was announced in early January by a group called Canada Unity, which was founded by James Bauder, a supporter of the QAnon conspiracy theories. Also involved are Tamara Lich, who previously belonged to the far-right Maverick Party, which calls for western Canada to become independent; and a former member of Trudeau’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police security detail. Also read | Canadian trucker protests snarl an already hobbled auto industry Few actual commercial trucks are a part of the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday that the last count he had was five of them there, with the rest being personal cars: “Ninety-nine percent of the truckers are working their backs off. ... This is about a political statement, that’s what this is about.” The protests have also been widely condemned by truckers and trucking groups. That includes the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which says the vast majority of drivers are fully vaccinated, in line with the country’s broader population. The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest border crossing between Canada and the United States. Spanning the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the suspension bridge accounts for a whopping 25 per cent of all trade between the two countries, with $328 million (417 million Canadian dollars) in goods crossing each day. The bridge is critical to the food sector in both countries as well as the auto industry; with crossings all but shut down, shortages have forced plants on both sides of the border to go offline or operate at reduced capacity. (With inputs from agencies)

Ottawa protest: Canada court orders end of trucks' bridge blockade

Canada's Freedom Convoy has gone global. Protests against vaccine-mandates are being reported in France, Australia & New Zealand. Back in Ottawa, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau is face the ire of the Canadian opposition. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Canada's 'Freedom Convoy' goes global

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs. But then came thousands of truckers who, angry about vaccine mandates, have been blocking major border crossings between Canada and the United States.

With Canadian officials baffled about what to do, the main routes that handle the steel, aluminum and other parts that keep car factories running on both sides of the border were essentially shut down Wednesday and Thursday.

Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda and Toyota have curtailed production at several factories in Michigan and Ontario, threatening paychecks and offering a fresh reminder of the fragility of global supply chains and of the deep interdependence of the U.S. and Canadian economies, which exchange $140 million in vehicles and parts every day.

No one knows how this is going to end. The protests are expected to swell in the coming days and could spread, including to the United States. Canada’s transport minister has called the bridge blockades illegal. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of public safety, said Thursday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national force, was sending additional officers to the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and to Windsor, Ontario. The mayor of Windsor has threatened to remove the protesters. But those statements have seemed to have little impact. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded with Canadian officials to quickly reopen traffic.

“They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy,” Whitmer said in a statement Thursday.

The chaos is already starting to take an economic toll. The pain is likely to be most acute for smaller auto parts suppliers, for independent truckers and for workers who get paid based on their production. Many of these groups, unlike large automakers like GM, Ford and Toyota, lack the clout to raise prices of their goods and services. Companies and workers in Canada are more likely to suffer because they are more dependent on the United States.

The longer crossings between the countries remain blocked, the more severe the damage, not only to the auto industry but also to the communities that depend on manufacturing salaries. Employees at large automakers generally are paid a percentage of their regular pay when they are sent home early. Workers at smaller firms typically receive no compensation for lost hours, said Dino Chiodo, director of auto at the giant Canadian union Unifor. Workers who have been sent home early because of parts shortages will spend less at stores and restaurants.

“People say, ‘I have $200 less this week; what do I do?’” Chiodo said. “It affects the Canadian and U.S. economy as a whole.”

Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Michigan, estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries.

Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, “then you’re looking at layoffs.”

The blockades came after a demonstration in Ottawa that started nearly two weeks ago. The protests began over a mandate that truck drivers coming from the United States be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have grown to include various pandemic restrictions. Some have demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign. The truckers have been joined by various groups, including some displaying Nazi symbols and damaging public monuments.

Police in Ottawa on Thursday said the protesters and their supporters, including some in the United States, had almost overwhelmed the city’s 911 system with calls.

The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. It carries roughly one-quarter of the trade between the two countries, which has been relatively unrestricted for decades. While food and other products are also affected, about one-third of the cargo that uses the bridge is related to the auto industry, Bailo said.

The blockade has been felt as far south as Kentucky, where production has been disrupted at a Toyota factory, the company said Thursday. The shutdown at the border also will prevent manufacturing at Toyota’s three Canadian plants for the rest of the week, said Scott Vazin, a company spokesperson.

GM said it had cancelled two shifts Wednesday and Thursday at a factory in Lansing, Michigan, that makes Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse sport utility vehicles. The company also sent workers from the first shift at a plant in Flint, Michigan, home early. Ford said Thursday that plants in Windsor and Oakville, also in Ontario, were running at reduced capacity.

Shortages of semiconductors and other components have not been all bad for giant automakers, creating scarcity that has driven up prices of cars in the last year. Ford and GM both reported healthy profits for 2021. And the economic damage will not be severe if the bridge and other crossings reopen soon, industry experts said.

But the last two years have shown that, because supply chains are so complex, problems at obscure parts makers can have far-reaching and unpredictable impact. Last year, Ford had to shut down plants for weeks at a time in part because of a fire at a chip factory in Japan.

“If it stretches on for weeks, it could be catastrophic,” said Peter Nagle, an analyst who covers the car industry at IHS Markit, a research firm.

Nagle said the bridge blockade was worse than the semiconductor shortage for carmakers. They “were already running pretty tight because of other supply chain shortages,” he said. “This is just bad news on top of bad news.”

The auto industry operates relatively seamlessly across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Some parts can travel back and forth across borders multiple times as raw materials are processed and are turned into components and, eventually, vehicles.

An engine block, for example, might be cast in Canada, sent to Michigan to be machined for pistons, then sent back to Canada for assembly into a finished motor. The blockades have stranded some truckers on the wrong side of the border, creating a chain reaction of missed deliveries.

Shelley Walker, CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, said she had been fielding calls from “a lot of angry drivers” who had been stuck waiting several hours to cross the border, citing one driver whose 15-mile trip took 6 1/2 hours Wednesday.

“What people seem to not understand is that when that truck isn’t moving, they make no money,” Walker said, noting that drivers with certain types of cargo, such as some hazardous materials, are limited to crossing on the Ambassador Bridge.

The slowdown in Canadian trade will disproportionately affect New York, Michigan and Ohio, said Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. At the same time, he added, the protests were “certainly raising concerns for all U.S. manufacturers.”

“There is already a shortage of truck drivers in North America, so protests keeping truckers off their routes exacerbates problems for an already fragile supply chain,” Wheaton said.

Carmakers had hoped that shortages of computer chips and other components would ease this year, allowing them to concentrate on the long term: the transition to electric vehicles.

A larger fear for many elected officials and business executives is that the scene at the Ambassador Bridge could inspire other protests. The Department of Homeland Security warned in an internal memo that a convoy of protesting truckers was planning to travel from California to Washington, D.C., potentially disrupting the Super Bowl and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address March 1.

“While there are currently no indications of planned violence,” the memo, which was dated Tuesday, said, “if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities and emergency services through gridlock and potential counter protests.”

Chiodo, the Canadian union leader, said that “the people who are demonstrating are doing it for the wrong reasons. They want to get back to the way things were before the pandemic, and in reality, they are shutting things down.”

The scene in Ottawa remained a raucous party Thursday, with hundreds of people on the street, many wearing Canadian flags like capes. The song “Life Is a Highway,” by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane, pumped from loudspeakers set up on the back of an empty trailer that had been converted into a stage.

But there was a thinning out of protesters — with some empty spaces where trucks had been the day before.

Johnny Neufeld, 39, a long-haul trucker from Windsor, said the vaccine mandate would spell the end of his job transporting molds into the United States since he had chosen not to be inoculated out of fear the shots had been developed too quickly. He got his first ticket from police Thursday morning, a fine of 130 Canadian dollars (about $100) for being in a no-stopping zone.

“This is a souvenir,” he said.

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs.

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs. But then came thousands of truckers who, angry about vaccine mandates, have been blocking major border crossings between Canada and the United States. With Canadian officials baffled about what to do, the main routes that handle the steel, aluminum and other parts that keep car factories running on both sides of the border were essentially shut down Wednesday and Thursday. Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda and Toyota have curtailed production at several factories in Michigan and Ontario, threatening paychecks and offering a fresh reminder of the fragility of global supply chains and of the deep interdependence of the U.S. and Canadian economies, which exchange $140 million in vehicles and parts every day. No one knows how this is going to end. The protests are expected to swell in the coming days and could spread, including to the United States. Canada’s transport minister has called the bridge blockades illegal. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of public safety, said Thursday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national force, was sending additional officers to the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and to Windsor, Ontario. The mayor of Windsor has threatened to remove the protesters. But those statements have seemed to have little impact. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded with Canadian officials to quickly reopen traffic. “They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy,” Whitmer said in a statement Thursday. The chaos is already starting to take an economic toll. The pain is likely to be most acute for smaller auto parts suppliers, for independent truckers and for workers who get paid based on their production. Many of these groups, unlike large automakers like GM, Ford and Toyota, lack the clout to raise prices of their goods and services. Companies and workers in Canada are more likely to suffer because they are more dependent on the United States. The longer crossings between the countries remain blocked, the more severe the damage, not only to the auto industry but also to the communities that depend on manufacturing salaries. Employees at large automakers generally are paid a percentage of their regular pay when they are sent home early. Workers at smaller firms typically receive no compensation for lost hours, said Dino Chiodo, director of auto at the giant Canadian union Unifor. Workers who have been sent home early because of parts shortages will spend less at stores and restaurants. “People say, ‘I have $200 less this week; what do I do?’” Chiodo said. “It affects the Canadian and U.S. economy as a whole.” Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Michigan, estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries. Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, “then you’re looking at layoffs.” The blockades came after a demonstration in Ottawa that started nearly two weeks ago. The protests began over a mandate that truck drivers coming from the United States be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have grown to include various pandemic restrictions. Some have demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign. The truckers have been joined by various groups, including some displaying Nazi symbols and damaging public monuments. Police in Ottawa on Thursday said the protesters and their supporters, including some in the United States, had almost overwhelmed the city’s 911 system with calls. The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. It carries roughly one-quarter of the trade between the two countries, which has been relatively unrestricted for decades. While food and other products are also affected, about one-third of the cargo that uses the bridge is related to the auto industry, Bailo said. The blockade has been felt as far south as Kentucky, where production has been disrupted at a Toyota factory, the company said Thursday. The shutdown at the border also will prevent manufacturing at Toyota’s three Canadian plants for the rest of the week, said Scott Vazin, a company spokesperson. GM said it had cancelled two shifts Wednesday and Thursday at a factory in Lansing, Michigan, that makes Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse sport utility vehicles. The company also sent workers from the first shift at a plant in Flint, Michigan, home early. Ford said Thursday that plants in Windsor and Oakville, also in Ontario, were running at reduced capacity. Shortages of semiconductors and other components have not been all bad for giant automakers, creating scarcity that has driven up prices of cars in the last year. Ford and GM both reported healthy profits for 2021. And the economic damage will not be severe if the bridge and other crossings reopen soon, industry experts said. But the last two years have shown that, because supply chains are so complex, problems at obscure parts makers can have far-reaching and unpredictable impact. Last year, Ford had to shut down plants for weeks at a time in part because of a fire at a chip factory in Japan. “If it stretches on for weeks, it could be catastrophic,” said Peter Nagle, an analyst who covers the car industry at IHS Markit, a research firm. Nagle said the bridge blockade was worse than the semiconductor shortage for carmakers. They “were already running pretty tight because of other supply chain shortages,” he said. “This is just bad news on top of bad news.” The auto industry operates relatively seamlessly across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Some parts can travel back and forth across borders multiple times as raw materials are processed and are turned into components and, eventually, vehicles. An engine block, for example, might be cast in Canada, sent to Michigan to be machined for pistons, then sent back to Canada for assembly into a finished motor. The blockades have stranded some truckers on the wrong side of the border, creating a chain reaction of missed deliveries. Shelley Walker, CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, said she had been fielding calls from “a lot of angry drivers” who had been stuck waiting several hours to cross the border, citing one driver whose 15-mile trip took 6 1/2 hours Wednesday. “What people seem to not understand is that when that truck isn’t moving, they make no money,” Walker said, noting that drivers with certain types of cargo, such as some hazardous materials, are limited to crossing on the Ambassador Bridge. The slowdown in Canadian trade will disproportionately affect New York, Michigan and Ohio, said Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. At the same time, he added, the protests were “certainly raising concerns for all U.S. manufacturers.” “There is already a shortage of truck drivers in North America, so protests keeping truckers off their routes exacerbates problems for an already fragile supply chain,” Wheaton said. Carmakers had hoped that shortages of computer chips and other components would ease this year, allowing them to concentrate on the long term: the transition to electric vehicles. A larger fear for many elected officials and business executives is that the scene at the Ambassador Bridge could inspire other protests. The Department of Homeland Security warned in an internal memo that a convoy of protesting truckers was planning to travel from California to Washington, D.C., potentially disrupting the Super Bowl and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address March 1. “While there are currently no indications of planned violence,” the memo, which was dated Tuesday, said, “if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities and emergency services through gridlock and potential counter protests.” Chiodo, the Canadian union leader, said that “the people who are demonstrating are doing it for the wrong reasons. They want to get back to the way things were before the pandemic, and in reality, they are shutting things down.” The scene in Ottawa remained a raucous party Thursday, with hundreds of people on the street, many wearing Canadian flags like capes. The song “Life Is a Highway,” by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane, pumped from loudspeakers set up on the back of an empty trailer that had been converted into a stage. But there was a thinning out of protesters — with some empty spaces where trucks had been the day before. Johnny Neufeld, 39, a long-haul trucker from Windsor, said the vaccine mandate would spell the end of his job transporting molds into the United States since he had chosen not to be inoculated out of fear the shots had been developed too quickly. He got his first ticket from police Thursday morning, a fine of 130 Canadian dollars (about $100) for being in a no-stopping zone. “This is a souvenir,” he said.

Canadian trucker protests snarl an already hobbled auto industry

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at the truckers protesting against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate in the country as “unacceptable”. Also he called the truck blockades a threat to economy.

Justin Trudeau slams truckers' protest, calls truck blockades a threat to economy

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slams truckers' protest, calls truck blockades a threat to economy

Canadian&nbsp;police&nbsp;threatened Wednesday to arrest&nbsp;trucker-led protesters who have shut down central Ottawa and disrupted cross-border trade in anger at Covid health rules, as Prime Minister Justin&nbsp;Trudeau&nbsp;lambasted the movement as "unacceptable."

With more people joining the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and the US city of Detroit in solidarity with the two-week long truckers protest in the Canadian capital,&nbsp;Trudeau&nbsp;warned the action threatens the country's economic recovery.

"Blockades, illegal demonstrations are unacceptable, and are negatively impacting businesses and manufacturers,"&nbsp;Trudeau&nbsp;said in the House of Commons. "We must do everything to bring them to an end."

To the protesters, he said, "You can't end a pandemic with blockades... You need to end it with science. You need to end it with public health measures."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/canadian-anti-vax-trucker-protest-fires-up-copycat-protests-451654">Canadian anti-vax trucker protest fires up copycat protests</a>

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said US officials were "in very close contact" with Canadian border agencies about the bridge blockade.

Psaki also expressed concerns about the impacts of the&nbsp;protests&nbsp;on the US economy, saying the action "poses a risk to supply chains, to the auto industry."

The Ambassador suspension bridge is a key trade corridor, with more than 40,000 commuters, tourists and trucks carrying US$323 million worth of goods across the span each day.&nbsp;

Several Canadian and American chambers of commerce and industry associations, in a joint statement, demanded the bridge be cleared, saying, "as our economies emerge from the impacts of the pandemic we cannot allow any group to undermine the cross-border trade."

Another trade link between Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana has also been blocked by protesters for several days.

'Freedom Convoy'&nbsp;

By Wednesday evening, the atmosphere on the streets of downtown Ottawa was one of protest and celebration.

"We're not going anywhere," said&nbsp;trucker&nbsp;John Deelstra, smiling from behind the wheel of his big rig, which has been at the demonstration since day one.

Planted not far away, Ontario&nbsp;trucker&nbsp;Lloyd Brubacher offered up the same steely resolve: "I'm not going anywhere," he told AFP, adding that he planned "to fight to the&nbsp;bitter end."

Some 400 vehicles are still camped on Parliament Hill below&nbsp;Trudeau's offices, against a backdrop of barbecues, campfires and music.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-protests-echo-globally-with-a-copycat-demonstration-planned-in-france-451793">Canadian protests echo globally, with a copycat demonstration planned in France</a>&nbsp;

"This is a dramatic situation that is impacting the wellbeing of&nbsp;Canada's relationship with the United States and impacts immensely how business is able to conduct its operations," University of Ottawa professor Gilles LeVasseur told AFP.

The so-called "Freedom Convoy" began last month in western&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;-- launched in anger at requirements that truckers either be vaccinated, or test and isolate, when crossing the US-Canada&nbsp;border.

Having snowballed into an occupation of&nbsp;Canada's capital, the protest has sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad.

On Wednesday, Ottawa&nbsp;police&nbsp;warned protesters they could face criminal charges and their trucks could be seized if they continue their "unlawful" clogging of downtown streets.

Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston said the Ambassador Bridge blockade was "threatening fragile supply chains already under pressure due to pandemic-related shortages and backlogs."&nbsp;

Officials pointed to 5,000 factory workers in Windsor, Ontario being sent home early Tuesday because of the blockade, and several auto assembly plants preparing to close, as Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed fears about lasting impacts on Canadian businesses.

&nbsp;'Illegal economic blockade'&nbsp;

Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader in Detroit, explained that North American assembly plants rely on timely parts deliveries across the bridge.

The auto sector "is a significant portion of the economy and an important portion of consumer spending" that has been hard hit over the past year, she said.

Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino warned of "serious dangers for the economy" and called on protesters to "go home!"

Watch |&nbsp;Two weeks of Canada truckers protest, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau calls it unacceptable

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"This is an illegal economic blockade... against all Canadians," added Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

Several provinces including Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan this week announced a gradual lifting or loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.&nbsp;

A Canadian court on Monday ordered the truckers to stop incessant honking that upset residents and made sleep difficult.

But the noise is spreading: Similar movements have hatched everywhere from New York to New Zealand.&nbsp;

In France, thousands of protesters inspired by the Canadian truckers plan to converge on Paris Friday evening, with some aiming to move onwards to Brussels Monday.

Canadian police threatened Wednesday to arrest trucker-led protesters who have shut down central Ottawa and disrupted cross-border trade in anger at Covid health rules, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lambasted the movement as "unacceptable.

Canadian police threatened Wednesday to arrest trucker-led protesters who have shut down central Ottawa and disrupted cross-border trade in anger at Covid health rules, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lambasted the movement as "unacceptable." With more people joining the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and the US city of Detroit in solidarity with the two-week long truckers protest in the Canadian capital, Trudeau warned the action threatens the country's economic recovery. "Blockades, illegal demonstrations are unacceptable, and are negatively impacting businesses and manufacturers," Trudeau said in the House of Commons. "We must do everything to bring them to an end." To the protesters, he said, "You can't end a pandemic with blockades... You need to end it with science. You need to end it with public health measures." Also read | Canadian anti-vax trucker protest fires up copycat protests Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said US officials were "in very close contact" with Canadian border agencies about the bridge blockade. Psaki also expressed concerns about the impacts of the protests on the US economy, saying the action "poses a risk to supply chains, to the auto industry." The Ambassador suspension bridge is a key trade corridor, with more than 40,000 commuters, tourists and trucks carrying US$323 million worth of goods across the span each day. Several Canadian and American chambers of commerce and industry associations, in a joint statement, demanded the bridge be cleared, saying, "as our economies emerge from the impacts of the pandemic we cannot allow any group to undermine the cross-border trade." Another trade link between Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana has also been blocked by protesters for several days. 'Freedom Convoy' By Wednesday evening, the atmosphere on the streets of downtown Ottawa was one of protest and celebration. "We're not going anywhere," said trucker John Deelstra, smiling from behind the wheel of his big rig, which has been at the demonstration since day one. Planted not far away, Ontario trucker Lloyd Brubacher offered up the same steely resolve: "I'm not going anywhere," he told AFP, adding that he planned "to fight to the bitter end." Some 400 vehicles are still camped on Parliament Hill below Trudeau's offices, against a backdrop of barbecues, campfires and music. Also read | Canadian protests echo globally, with a copycat demonstration planned in France "This is a dramatic situation that is impacting the wellbeing of Canada's relationship with the United States and impacts immensely how business is able to conduct its operations," University of Ottawa professor Gilles LeVasseur told AFP. The so-called "Freedom Convoy" began last month in western Canada -- launched in anger at requirements that truckers either be vaccinated, or test and isolate, when crossing the US-Canada border. Having snowballed into an occupation of Canada's capital, the protest has sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad. On Wednesday, Ottawa police warned protesters they could face criminal charges and their trucks could be seized if they continue their "unlawful" clogging of downtown streets. Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association president Brian Kingston said the Ambassador Bridge blockade was "threatening fragile supply chains already under pressure due to pandemic-related shortages and backlogs." Officials pointed to 5,000 factory workers in Windsor, Ontario being sent home early Tuesday because of the blockade, and several auto assembly plants preparing to close, as Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed fears about lasting impacts on Canadian businesses. 'Illegal economic blockade' Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with Autotrader in Detroit, explained that North American assembly plants rely on timely parts deliveries across the bridge. The auto sector "is a significant portion of the economy and an important portion of consumer spending" that has been hard hit over the past year, she said. Canada's Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino warned of "serious dangers for the economy" and called on protesters to "go home!" Watch | Two weeks of Canada truckers protest, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau calls it unacceptable "This is an illegal economic blockade... against all Canadians," added Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. Several provinces including Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan this week announced a gradual lifting or loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. A Canadian court on Monday ordered the truckers to stop incessant honking that upset residents and made sleep difficult. But the noise is spreading: Similar movements have hatched everywhere from New York to New Zealand. In France, thousands of protesters inspired by the Canadian truckers plan to converge on Paris Friday evening, with some aiming to move onwards to Brussels Monday.

Trudeau slams Canada trucker protests, police threaten arrests

As Canadians’ impatience and frustration with the occupation of their national capital intensifies, the protests continued to echo globally on Wednesday, this time in France, where dozens of trucks and vehicles left southern France for Paris to vent their anger over their country’s vaccination policies.

The demonstrations in Canada’s capital of Ottawa — by loosely organized groups of truck drivers and protesters opposed to vaccination requirements for truckers crossing into Canada from the United States — have inspired copycat convoys in New Zealand and Australia as well. And there are talks of another in the works in the United States.

Far-right and anti-vaccine groups around the world have amplified the message of the Canadian protesters on social media, raising millions of dollars in online campaigns.

The main Facebook group for the French demonstrators has attracted more than 300,000 followers in just a few days. The movement calls itself “Convoi de la Liberté,” a direct translation of “Freedom Convoy,” the slogan for the Canadian movement.

In Ottawa, life continued to be disrupted by the presence of more than 400 trucks blocking roads. Residents got some relief on Tuesday night when the drivers of the trucks for the second night refrained from blasting their air horns, a form of protest that was enjoined by a court order on Monday afternoon.

At the other end of Ontario province, in Windsor, a road blockade continued to prevent trucks from entering Canada across the Ambassador Bridge between the city and Detroit. The bridge is critical to the automobile industry.

On Wednesday, truck protesters were also still interfering with another border crossing between the western province of Alberta and Montana.

The protesters in Ottawa converged on the city nearly two weeks ago, but a strategy for retaking the city from the truckers continues to elude law enforcement. It has also emboldened critics of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his response to the pandemic.

Ottawa’s police chief, who declared a state of emergency on Sunday, has vowed to end the protests but has said the city needs 1,800 more officers to do that. Trudeau said on Twitter that hundreds of Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been mobilized to support Ottawa police officers. 
&nbsp;

As Canadians’ impatience and frustration with the occupation of their national capital intensifies, the protests continued to echo globally on Wednesday, this time in France, where dozens of trucks and vehicles left southern France for Paris to vent their anger over their country’s vaccination policies.

As Canadians’ impatience and frustration with the occupation of their national capital intensifies, the protests continued to echo globally on Wednesday, this time in France, where dozens of trucks and vehicles left southern France for Paris to vent their anger over their country’s vaccination policies. The demonstrations in Canada’s capital of Ottawa — by loosely organized groups of truck drivers and protesters opposed to vaccination requirements for truckers crossing into Canada from the United States — have inspired copycat convoys in New Zealand and Australia as well. And there are talks of another in the works in the United States. Far-right and anti-vaccine groups around the world have amplified the message of the Canadian protesters on social media, raising millions of dollars in online campaigns. The main Facebook group for the French demonstrators has attracted more than 300,000 followers in just a few days. The movement calls itself “Convoi de la Liberté,” a direct translation of “Freedom Convoy,” the slogan for the Canadian movement. In Ottawa, life continued to be disrupted by the presence of more than 400 trucks blocking roads. Residents got some relief on Tuesday night when the drivers of the trucks for the second night refrained from blasting their air horns, a form of protest that was enjoined by a court order on Monday afternoon. At the other end of Ontario province, in Windsor, a road blockade continued to prevent trucks from entering Canada across the Ambassador Bridge between the city and Detroit. The bridge is critical to the automobile industry. On Wednesday, truck protesters were also still interfering with another border crossing between the western province of Alberta and Montana. The protesters in Ottawa converged on the city nearly two weeks ago, but a strategy for retaking the city from the truckers continues to elude law enforcement. It has also emboldened critics of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his response to the pandemic. Ottawa’s police chief, who declared a state of emergency on Sunday, has vowed to end the protests but has said the city needs 1,800 more officers to do that. Trudeau said on Twitter that hundreds of Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been mobilized to support Ottawa police officers.

Canadian protests echo globally, with a copycat demonstration planned in France

Justin Trudeau has asked the protesting anti-vax truckers to disband amid reports of violence in the Canadian capital. The 'Freedom Convoy' has started inspiring similar protests in New Zealand and Australia. Palki Sharma tells you how Trudeau's failed response has emboldened anti-vaxxers.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Trudeau tweets from his secret hide-out amid trucker protest

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday emerged from isolation and asserted that the truckers' protest had to stop. He also took to Twitter and wrote that Canadians have the right to protest, disagree with their government, and make their voices heard. But, they can't interfere with the country's economy, democracy, or fellow citizens’ daily lives.

PM Trudeau demands for an end to truckers' protest in Canada

Canada's Truckers protest refuse to die down. Sikhs have joined truckers in demonstrations against the Canadian Govt. Canada's leader of Opposition Candice Bergen wants Justin Trudeau to apologise for derogating the motives of protesters. Molly Gambhir gets you a report.

Gravitas: Canada's Freedom Convoy grows in strength

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slammed protesters who have been holding rallies since Jan 29. While speaking from an undisclosed location Trudeau hit out at truckers for demanding an end to all COVID restrictions.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slams protesters

Canada's Freedom Convoy protest is growing in size & strength. Truckers have gridlocked Canada's capital Ottawa. The movement is no longer just about Covid restrictions but also against PM Justin Trudeau's leadership. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Truckers protest turns into anti-Trudeau movement

Justin Trudeau and his family moved to an undisclosed location amid massive protests by anti-vax truckers. Netizens are reminding Trudeau of the time he lectured the Indian government on the farmers' protests. Has Trudeau forgotten his own advice? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Trudeau flees as protesting truckers besiege Ottawa

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already been moved to an 'undisclosed location' owing to truckers' protest taking place in capital Ottawa. The truckers with their vehicles jamming central Ottawa are opposing government mandates on compulsory Covid vaccination. Though the temperature remains below -10 degrees Celsius, there is no sign that the mega-jam in the Canadian capital would be cleared soon.

Meanwhile, Trudeau is also being taken shot&nbsp;at by Twitter users in India. The potshots suggest that Trudeau is facing effects of his own 'Karma' in the past.

Trudeau had commented on farmer protests in India, something which was seen by many as interference in India's internal matters. Now when protests are at his own doorstep, the Canadian prime minister has 'fled', say many.

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Hello <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a> Thand toh nhi lag rahi?? 😂 He Was interfering &amp; encouraging Protest in India &amp; Now facing same in Canada. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TruckersForFreedom2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TruckersForFreedom2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustinTrudeau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustinTrudeau</a> <a href="https://t.co/3BxizDINCE">pic.twitter.com/3BxizDINCE</a>
— Rosy (@rose_k01) <a href="https://twitter.com/rose_k01/status/1487635760031305730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Karma strikes again. But the cowardly Trudeau ran away 😝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CanadaTruckers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CanadaTruckers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottawatruckers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ottawatruckers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustinTrudeau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustinTrudeau</a> <a href="https://t.co/6tTLS27QVz">pic.twitter.com/6tTLS27QVz</a>
— Ranita Ch (@ChRanita) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChRanita/status/1487753658250895361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Karma Strikes harder !!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustinTrudeau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustinTrudeau</a> supported Tractors protests in Delhi last year on Jan 26th, and now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JustinTrudeau?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JustinTrudeau</a> &amp; his family ran away to secret location due to security threat. In Canada, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TruckersFreedomProtests?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TruckersFreedomProtests</a> intensifies, with lakhs on streets. <a href="https://t.co/v48uZjage7">pic.twitter.com/v48uZjage7</a>
— Shrey Sanghvi (@ShreySanghvi3) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShreySanghvi3/status/1487739998162272258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The truckers protest is going on despite temperatures plummetting well below zero degrees Celsius.

"This is still a very tenuous exercise, it's fluid in nature. Negotiations are indicating that some people are leaving the city from a demonstrations standpoint, that's a good thing," police chief Peter Sloly told reporters late on Sunday.

Canada Unity, one of the groups involved, said it wanted to gather 1,000 people to go into a mall and shop without masks. The Rideau Centre, a large nearby mall, said it would be shut for a second day on Monday.

Police said on Friday they would start towing trucks on Monday if necessary. But by late on Sunday it said they had avoided ticketing and towing vehicles to avoid provoking confrontations with demonstrators.

The announcement spurred frustration among local residents who said they were fed up with the non-stop blaring of truck horns and demonstrators using the streets as an open-air toilet.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already been moved to an 'undisclosed location' owing to truckers' protest taking place in capital Ottawa. The truckers with their vehicles jamming central Ottawa are opposing government mandates on compulsory Covid vaccination.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already been moved to an 'undisclosed location' owing to truckers' protest taking place in capital Ottawa. The truckers with their vehicles jamming central Ottawa are opposing government mandates on compulsory Covid vaccination. Though the temperature remains below -10 degrees Celsius, there is no sign that the mega-jam in the Canadian capital would be cleared soon. Meanwhile, Trudeau is also being taken shot at by Twitter users in India. The potshots suggest that Trudeau is facing effects of his own 'Karma' in the past. Trudeau had commented on farmer protests in India, something which was seen by many as interference in India's internal matters. Now when protests are at his own doorstep, the Canadian prime minister has 'fled', say many. Hello @JustinTrudeau Thand toh nhi lag rahi?? 😂 He Was interfering & encouraging Protest in India & Now facing same in Canada. #TruckersForFreedom2022 #JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/3BxizDINCE — Rosy (@rose_k01) January 30, 2022 × Karma strikes again. But the cowardly Trudeau ran away 😝#CanadaTruckers #Karma #ottawatruckers #JustinTrudeau pic.twitter.com/6tTLS27QVz — Ranita Ch (@ChRanita) January 30, 2022 × Karma Strikes harder !!#JustinTrudeau supported Tractors protests in Delhi last year on Jan 26th, and now #JustinTrudeau & his family ran away to secret location due to security threat. In Canada, #TruckersFreedomProtests intensifies, with lakhs on streets. pic.twitter.com/v48uZjage7 — Shrey Sanghvi (@ShreySanghvi3) January 30, 2022 × The truckers protest is going on despite temperatures plummetting well below zero degrees Celsius. "This is still a very tenuous exercise, it's fluid in nature. Negotiations are indicating that some people are leaving the city from a demonstrations standpoint, that's a good thing," police chief Peter Sloly told reporters late on Sunday. Canada Unity, one of the groups involved, said it wanted to gather 1,000 people to go into a mall and shop without masks. The Rideau Centre, a large nearby mall, said it would be shut for a second day on Monday. Police said on Friday they would start towing trucks on Monday if necessary. But by late on Sunday it said they had avoided ticketing and towing vehicles to avoid provoking confrontations with demonstrators. The announcement spurred frustration among local residents who said they were fed up with the non-stop blaring of truck horns and demonstrators using the streets as an open-air toilet. (With inputs from agencies)

Taste of own medicine or Karma? Indian Twitter trolls Trudeau over truckers protests

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family members were reportedly moved to a secret location amid political turmoil in the country.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the country's capital Ottawa on Sunday (January 30) to protest against Trudeau and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates.&nbsp;

CBC reported citing sources that the Prime Minister, his wife and their children were relocated from their Ottawa home to the undisclosed location due to security concerns.&nbsp;

Reports have mentioned a slight change in Trudeau's itinerary as usually, it states he is in Ottawa if he is at home. However, on Saturday it was changed to "National Capital Region".&nbsp;

Important to note that Trudeau was isolating after one of his kids tested Covid positive last week. He is working remotely.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-removes-non-essential-personnel-from-embassy-in-ukraine-449070">Canada removes non-essential personnel from embassy in Ukraine</a>

The protest, deemed "Freedom Convoy" of trucks was joined by thousands of demonstrators in Ottawa&nbsp;for a second day Sunday. Other sympathetic truckers blocked a border highway into the United States.&nbsp;

The protest originated last week in western Canada, where dozens of truckers organised a convoy to drive from Vancouver to the Canadian capital to demonstrate against Covid-related restrictions.

The demonstrations were particularly against a recent vaccination requirement for truck drivers crossing the long US-Canada border.&nbsp;

Trucks remained parked on the streets near parliament and some truckers said they would not leave until the mandate was overturned. On Monday (January 31), lawmakers are due to resume work after the holiday break.

For the unversed, about 90 per cent&nbsp;of Canada's cross-border truckers and almost 79 per cent&nbsp;of the population has had two COVID-19 vaccine shots.

Canada is now in the middle of a spike in Omicron variant cases that is straining hospitals.

WATCH |&nbsp;Canadian PM Justin Trudeau keeps mum on trucker protest in Ottawa

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(With inputs from agencies)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family members were reportedly moved to a secret location amid political turmoil in the country. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the country's capital Ottawa on Sunday (January 30) to protest against Trudeau and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family members were reportedly moved to a secret location amid political turmoil in the country. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the country's capital Ottawa on Sunday (January 30) to protest against Trudeau and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates. CBC reported citing sources that the Prime Minister, his wife and their children were relocated from their Ottawa home to the undisclosed location due to security concerns. Reports have mentioned a slight change in Trudeau's itinerary as usually, it states he is in Ottawa if he is at home. However, on Saturday it was changed to "National Capital Region". Important to note that Trudeau was isolating after one of his kids tested Covid positive last week. He is working remotely. ALSO READ | Canada removes non-essential personnel from embassy in Ukraine The protest, deemed "Freedom Convoy" of trucks was joined by thousands of demonstrators in Ottawa for a second day Sunday. Other sympathetic truckers blocked a border highway into the United States. The protest originated last week in western Canada, where dozens of truckers organised a convoy to drive from Vancouver to the Canadian capital to demonstrate against Covid-related restrictions. The demonstrations were particularly against a recent vaccination requirement for truck drivers crossing the long US-Canada border. Trucks remained parked on the streets near parliament and some truckers said they would not leave until the mandate was overturned. On Monday (January 31), lawmakers are due to resume work after the holiday break. For the unversed, about 90 per cent of Canada's cross-border truckers and almost 79 per cent of the population has had two COVID-19 vaccine shots. Canada is now in the middle of a spike in Omicron variant cases that is straining hospitals. WATCH | Canadian PM Justin Trudeau keeps mum on trucker protest in Ottawa × (With inputs from agencies)

Where is Justin Trudeau? Canadian PM moved to a secret location amid protests

The family of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau have been moved to a secret location as thousands rally in Ottawa against the govt's policies. The PM who like to express his views on almost everything happening in the world keeps mum when it comes to his own turf. The last statement that the PM made was on Friday when he called the truckers a fringe minority.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau keeps mum on trucker protest in Ottawa

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