Mayor Jim Watson stated that the declaration demonstrates the need to receive support from other levels and jurisdictions. This gives the city additional power in procurement and delivery of services. It could be used to purchase equipment for first responders and frontline workers.
On the weekend, thousands of protesters returned to Ottawa. They joined a hundred others who had remained since last weekend. Ottawa residents are furious at the constant blaring of horns and traffic disruptions and harassment. They fear there will be no end to the chaos after the police chief declared it a "siege" he couldn't manage.
Many U.S. Republicans have supported the "freedom truck convoy", including former President Donald Trump who called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "far left lunatic" who "destroyed Canada through insane Covid mandates."
"Canada-US relations used to be about solving technical problems. Canada is now seeing radical US politicians getting involved in domestic Canadian issues. Trump and his followers pose a threat not only to the US, but to all democracies," Bruce Heyman (an ex-ambassador for the United States under President Barack Obama) tweeted.
Heyman stated that "under no circumstances should any US group fund disruptive activities in Canada." Period. "Full stop."
The crowdfunding website GoFundMe announced that it would redirect or refund to charities the vast majority the millions raised by protestors in Ottawa. This was followed by prominent U.S. Republicans such as Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis complained.
GoFundMe has already said that it will issue refunds to everyone, but this was before the site had made any changes. According to the site, it stopped funding the organizers after it found that the activity violated its terms of service.
Doug Ford, Ontario Premier, has described it as an occupation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon tweeted "Patriotic Texans donated Canadian truckers' worthy cause." Texas Senator Ted Cruz stated on Fox News that "government doesn’t have the right force you to follow their arbitrary mandates."
"For some senior American politicians patriotism is renting a mob in order to put a G-7 Capital under siege," tweeted Gerald Butts. He was a former senior advisor to Trudeau.
Toronto, Canada's biggest city, was the scene of a police-led protest. They also stopped a smaller one by setting up roadblocks and stopping any trucks from coming near the provincial legislature. The police also entered the area to clear an intersection.
Canadians are outraged at the crude actions of the demonstrators. Late Friday, some protesters set off fireworks on the grounds surrounding the National War Memorial. Many protesters carried flags and signs with swastikas and compared vaccination mandates to fascism.
Protesters say they will not leave until COVID-19 restrictions and mandates are removed. Protesters are calling for Trudeau's removal, even though the government is responsible for a few of the measures that were implemented by provincial governments.
