‘That has no place in Ontario or Canada’: Doug Ford denounces actions of “some individuals” in trucker protest

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This article was published 31/01/2022 (1128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After days of silence, Premier Doug Ford is denouncing the controversial demonstration by truckers on Parliament Hill.

“The right to peaceful protest is core to our Canadian identity,” Ford said Monday in the wake of political rivals demanding he speak out about the rally against vaccination mandates for truckers who cross the Canada-U.S. border.

“I was extremely disturbed, however, to see some individuals desecrate our most sacred monuments and wave swastikas and other symbols of hate and intolerance this weekend,” the premier said in a statement.

“That has no place in Ontario or Canada. Not now. Not ever.”

Ford, whose Etobicoke home has been the target of weekly protests by anti-vaxxers and those opposed to pandemic lockdowns for the past 19 months, noted “Ontario is beginning to ease some public health measures” as of Monday.

That return to allowing indoor dining at restaurants and bars, among other things, is “the first step in returning to normal” after nearly two years of restrictions in the province,” he said.

“All Ontarians are united in their desire to put this pandemic behind us and return to the life we knew before COVID-19.”

The premier will meet with reporters on Tuesday in Ajax, where he will be asked about a rally that saw protesters dance on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, urinate on the National War Memorial, place signs on the Terry Fox statue, and brandish Nazi banners and rebel flags of the pro-slavery Confederacy.

Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod, who represents the riding of Nepean, said “the residents and families of Ottawa need to return to work and school.”

“To the protesters remaining — you’ve been heard — please go home,” MacLeod said on Twitter.

Liberal MPP John Fraser (Ottawa South), who has been criticizing Ford since last Thursday over his reluctance to comment about the protest, said the premier’s statement “doesn’t go far enough.”

“What I can’t understand is what is stopping you from standing with the people of Ottawa by saying to the protesters: Enough is enough. It’s time for you to leave,” Fraser tweeted.

“It’s truly puzzling.”

NDP MPP Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre), whose riding includes Parliament Hill, implored Ford to ask provincial inspectors “to investigate and fine dangerous, selfish actions happening now in Ottawa.

“This isn’t a protest, this is organized harassment. DO something,” Harden tweeted.

Numerous downtown Ottawa restaurants, shops, and other businesses have been forced to close due to scores of truckers blocking downtown streets.

Clarification — Feb. 1, 2022: The headline on this article was edited to clarify that Premier Doug Ford was talking about the actions of “some individuals” in the trucker protest.

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie