Jagmeet Singh calls for emergency debate on Ottawa trucker occupation

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, is calling for an emergency debate on how to handle the truckers convoy occupying the nation’s capital.

“We really need to take it seriously,” Singh said in a press conference Monday morning. “They're terrorizing and intimidating citizens and people, instead of what a regular protest does: focus on the government and government decisions.”

He thinks the federal government needs to consult with municipalities affected by protests — including Ottawa — and work together to find solutions.

For eleven consecutive days, Ottawa’s downtown has been occupied by people protesting vaccine mandates. What began as a movement opposed to vaccine mandates for long-haul truckers has morphed into calls for the federal government to be replaced with an unelected committee from the groups organizing the protest.

Singh also said the convoy is “getting funded by foreign interference” such as the U.S. and this needs to be investigated and stopped.

In just over two weeks, a GoFundMe campaign for the convoy racked up approximately $10.1 million. But on Feb. 4, the crowdfunding platform announced all donations will be refunded because the “previously peaceful demonstration” became “an occupation.”

Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly has said significant influence and money is pouring in from the United States in support of the convoy and ex-president Donald Trump released a statement criticizing GoFundMe’s decision to cancel the fundraiser.

On Sunday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency because the ongoing trucker convoy protest poses a “serious danger” to residents and suggested the federal government appoint a mediator to try and resolve the situation.

Singh does not think mediation efforts will amount to anything.

“Organizers have made it clear their intention is to overthrow the government,” Singh said at the press conference. “They are harassing citizens, they're threatening people, assaulting people … this is a violent and dangerous action that is causing really severe consequences to people.”

In response to the occupation, a group of Ottawa residents are launching a class-action lawsuit because of the incessant honking carried out by the convoy.

On Monday afternoon, Watson and Coun. Diane Deans, chair of the police services board, wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford requesting 1,000 regular officers, 600 public order officers, 100 investigators and 100 civilian staff to deal with the “aggressive and hateful occupation” of Ottawa’s downtown area.

Singh says the convoy has been used as a wedge issue, particularly by the Conservative Party but also by the Liberals.

“What we need to do is provide solutions we need to bring people together and that's what I'm hoping to do with emergency debate,” said Singh.

– With files from the Canadian Press

Natasha Bulowski / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer