Deploying military to clear out convoy protest in Ottawa ‘not in the cards’: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is not currently entertaining the option of deploying the military to clear out the Ottawa convoy protest, which has brought the city’s downtown area to a standstill.

Trudeau says the priority for the federal government is being there for the citizens of Ottawa through the protest. He says military options being discussed by Ottawa police, “is not in the cards right now.”

However, he’s not entirely ruling out the option, noting the federal government will stand ready to respond to help the City of Ottawa or the province of Ontario with any formal requests.

“We will be there. We will be there to respond to any formal requests from either the city or the province,” he said.

For now, Trudeau says the RCMP is helping local and provincial police.

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He stressed the importance of being extremely cautious before deploying the military in situations where they would engage with Canadians.

Trudeau also dismissed the option of negotiating with organizers of the protest.

“Having a group of people who disagree with the outcome of an election, who want to go a different way and bring in an alternative government, is a non-starter.”

Among the demands from a central group organizing the convoy is that the governor-general and the senate sign a document to essentially replace the federal government with a “Citizens Committee” that this group will have a say in.

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The prime minister is calling for an end to the demonstration, saying for the people impacted in Ottawa, it’s time to give them their neighbourhoods back.

The protest, dubbed the “freedom convoy,” began as a demonstration against cross-border vaccine mandates for truck drivers. However, many of the participants insist the rally is about all government health mandates.

While he is not completely ruling out a military option, Prime Minister Trudeau says "one has to be very, very cautious before deploying military in situations engaging Canadians" #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 3, 2022

Protest organizer Tamara Lich says they will not leave until all vaccine mandates in Canada are lifted.

“Let me assure the people of Ottawa that we have no intent to stay one day longer than necessary,” she said. “Our departure will be based on the prime minister doing what is right. Ending all mandates and restrictions on our freedoms.”

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Police estimated the protest involved 8,000 to 15,00 people on Saturday but those the numbers have since dwindled to a few hundred.

During a press conference Thursday, Lich refused to take questions. Her lawyer answered a couple before ending the availability amid questions about the funding behind the convoy.

Related Article: GoFundMe pauses donations to ‘Freedom Convoy 2022’ as funds exceed $10M

The “Freedom Convoy 2022” GoFundMe fundraiser which is now the second-largest in Canada is “currently paused” and is under review to ensure it is not violating laws and regulations. The website says funds can’t be used in support of hate, violence, harassment or bullying.

– With files from The Canadian Press