Washington urges Ottawa to do everything in its power to lift border blockades and offers its support, while protesters outside parliament continue to violate laws without consequence.
• Read also: Ex-servicemen and RCMP officers among the convoy
The United States on Thursday asked Canada to use its “federal powers” to lift border blockages caused by convoys protesting against health measures.
The US administration even offered the “full and complete support” of the Department of Homeland Security, White House officials said.
The Biden administration is “mobilized around the clock to quickly end” a crisis that is disrupting American industry, they said.
Photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
This demonstrator, like many others, is organized to stay on the spot for a long time.
Three border roads between Canada and the United States are now blocked by protesters, which has significant repercussions on the economy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his part convened Thursday evening the Incident Response Group, comprising ministers and senior officials, to ensure that provinces and municipalities get the resources to end the blockades.
Even conservatives have asked protesters to pack up. (See text on p.14)
Meanwhile in Ottawa, the hard core of protesters have organized themselves to stay on the scene as long as possible, thanks to a food and fuel supply system that the police are struggling to curb.
Horns despite the injunction
Sign that they are not intimidated by the police, truckers honked Thursday noon, defying the injunction which prohibits them from doing so since Sunday.
Photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
Ottawa police were unable Thursday to enforce the injunction that prohibits truckers from honking their horns.
They were visited by police officers who, instead of arresting them, exchanged a few words with the drivers before taking pictures of their plates, while they were surrounded by demonstrators who were filming their intervention.
The police force also did not carry out the threat it had issued the day before, namely that of arresting all the demonstrators who block the streets.
Overwhelmed police
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly reiterated Thursday that he needed more resources to achieve “faster results to end this illegal occupation.”
At the beginning of the week, Mr. Sloly had asked for 1,800 reinforcements to put an end to the demonstration. However, only 250 RCMP officers were promised.
– With AFP and Camille Payant
The Ontario government received authorization from the Superior Court on Thursday to freeze the amount of $11 million collected on the GiveSendGo platform.