Moe offers thoughts on protests at Canada-U.S. border crossings

Premier Scott Moe weighed in Thursday on the protests that have shut down various Canada-U.S. border crossings across the country.

In a statement, Moe said the Saskatchewan government supports people’s right to protest, but only if it’s done peacefully and obeys the laws.

“As I have stated publicly on several occasions, including prior to the trucker convoys in Saskatchewan, everyone has this right but it needs to be done within the law,” Moe said. “If that is not the case, in this or any other demonstration, I would expect the law to be enforced and upheld.

“The right to peaceful protest should not be impeding others’ right to access public transportation routes and border crossings. I would call on all the protesters to continue to advance their valid concerns about the federal vaccine mandates without engaging in unlawful activity and obstructing the rights of their fellow Canadians.”

There have been protests about COVID vaccine mandates on each of the past two weekends at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. There also was a protest at the North Portal border crossing in late January.

Moe announced Tuesday that Saskatchewan will be removing its COVID-related public health measures by the end of February. The province’s requirement of proof of vaccination/proof of a negative test to gain access to businesses and venues is to be lifted Monday at 12:01 a.m.

Meanwhile, downtown Ottawa remains in gridlock due to a truckers’ protest in front of Parliament Hill that started nearly two weeks ago, the Coutts border crossing in Alberta is still blocked and, on Thursday, the Emerson Port of Entry in Manitoba was blocked by vehicles and farm equipment.

A demonstration involving a large number of vehicles & farm equipment is blocking the Emerson Port of Entry. No traffic is getting through either northbound or southbound. The Port of Entry is shut down. Please avoid the area. #rcmpmb is on scene. pic.twitter.com/SpKzwzMfKZ

— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) February 10, 2022

As well, flag-waving protesters opposed to COVID measures continue to block Canada-bound traffic from crossing the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday said the protest is hurting “Michigan’s working families who are just trying to do their jobs,” noting the bridge is the busiest land border crossing in North America.

She said local, provincial and national governments must “de-escalate this economic blockade.”

According to The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are working to get the situation under control.

— With files from The Canadian Press