Canada: Ottawa Declares State of Emergency as Truckers Blare Horns against Covid-19 Restrictions

Feb 7, 2022 • The mayor of Ottawa has declared a state of emergency to help deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital.

The protesters, who first reached the capital on Jan 29, have parked their big rigs on city streets and put up tents and temporary shacks - paralysing the capital to the consternation of officials and the mounting frustration of many residents.

The demonstrations began as protests by truckers angry with vaccine requirements when crossing the US-Canadian border, but have morphed into broader protests against Covid-19 health restrictions and the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Locals have complained of the ceaseless sound of air horns and of being harassed, insulted or blocked by the protesters.

The truckers and their supporters have dug in, however, saying the protests will continue until the Covid-related restrictions are lifted.

Police on Sunday announced new measures to stop people from helping the protesters keep up their sit-in.

Justin Trudeau imprime son style à Ottawa

LE MONDE: C’est à pied plutôt qu’en limousine et au son de la cornemuse que Justin Trudeau, 43 ans, a fait son entrée à Rideau Hall, la résidence du gouverneur général du Canada à Ottawa, mercredi 4 novembre, entouré des membres de son cabinet. Voulant donner une image d’équipe « forte, diversifiée et expérimentée », le nouveau premier ministre canadien avait réservé au grand public la primeur de la composition du conseil des ministres. Envahis par plus de 2 000 personnes, les jardins de Rideau Hall étaient parés aux couleurs de l’été indien quand le chef libéral s’est avancé dans l’allée centrale avec sa femme et sa nouvelle équipe. » | Par Anne Pélouas (Montréal correspondence) | jeudi 5 novembre 2015

Thousands Pay Final Respects to Slain Canadian Soldier

Oct. 28, 2014 - 2:29 - Jonathan Hunt reports from New York City

Canada: Ottawa and Quebec Terror Attackers Followed Britain's Hate Preacher Anjem Choudary

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: The two Muslim converts who carried out attacks against Canadian soldiers in Quebec and Ottawa shared a common interest in radical British hate preacher Anjem Choudary, according to reports.

The Twitter profiles of Martin 'Ahmad' Couture-Rouleau, a 25-year-old Muslim convert who was shot dead by police after he killed a Canadian soldier and injured a second near Montreal, and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who gunned down a soldier in Ottawa, showed they followed several Islamist preachers, including Choudary.

The preacher, who was recently arrested in London on suspicion of being member of British-based Islamic terrorist group Al-Muhajiroun, rejected any links with the Canadian assailants. » | Gianluca Mezzofiore | Thursday, October 23, 2014

Canada Foreign Minister: Extremism 'Reality of 21st Century'

Oct. 23, 2014 - 5:49 - John Baird, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, recalls the terrifying shooting atthe Parliament complex, reflects on what can be done to combat lone wolves of terror and radical extremism

Why Obama Won’t Declare Ottawa Shooting Terrorism

Oct. 23, 2014 - 4:07 - Former State Department Senior Advisor Christian Whiton discusses the Canadian parliament attack and President Obama.

Standing Ovation for Hero Who Stopped Ottawa Attack

Oct. 23, 2014 - 4:07 - Parliament back in session after shooting rampage

Canadian Killer Was Recent Convert to Islam Identified as Terror Risk

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Witnesses describe seeing Michael Zehaf-Bibeau raise his arms in gesture of triumph after shooting dead soldier guarding war memorial in Ottawa


Terror came to the heart of the Canadian capital Ottawa on Wednesday as a suspected jihadist gunman shot dead a soldier at the national war memorial and then rampaged through the halls of the federal parliament.

The attacker, who was killed in a gun battle inside parliament, was named as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian-born 32-year-old.

He was a recent convert to Islam from Quebec with a history of drug abuse and whose passport had been seized by authorities after he was designated a "high-risk traveller", Canadian media reported. » | Philip Sherwell, New York | Thursday, October 23, 2014

Stephen Harper: 'Canada Will Never Be Intimidated'

Canadian prime minister delivers defiant message, saying shootings are a reminder that the country is not immune to terror attacks

Read the Telegraph article here | Rob Crilly, New York | Thursday, October 23, 2014

Canada: Soldier Dies in Chaotic Parliament Hill Attack

A Canadian soldier and a security guard were shot in Ottawa.

Read the Toronto Star article here

Ottawa : interdit de fumer dehors... dans plusieurs lieux publics
RADIO-CANADA: Il est dorénavant interdit de fumer dans plusieurs lieux publics extérieurs, à Ottawa. Les modifications au règlement sans fumée de la Ville entrent en vigueur aujourd'hui.

Toutes les propriétés municipales, dont les parcs, les terrains de jeux, les plages, les terrains de sport et les stationnements extérieurs des édifices municipaux, sont incluses dans cette interdiction. De plus, les terrasses des bars et des restaurants deviennent des endroits non-fumeurs.

Selon Anne Meloche, agente de projet à la Santé publique d'Ottawa, la fumée secondaire est néfaste, peu importe où elle se trouve. » | lundi 02 avril 2012

Related »

Organizers, Not University Cancelled Ann Coulter: University of Ottawa
THE VANCOUVER SUN: OTTAWA - In a brief statement Wednesday University of Ottawa President Allan Rock defended his institution and said that free expression is a core value of the school that bills itself as Canada's university.

"Freedom of expression is a core value that the University of Ottawa has always promoted. We have a long history of hosting contentious and controversial speakers on our campus. Last night was no exception, as people gathered here to listen to and debate Ann Coulter's opinions."

Rock's statement said organizers of the speech themselves decided at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday to cancel the event and informed the university's security services on site of their decision.

The statement said a crowd of about 1,000 people had "peacefully gathered at Marion Hall."

"I encourage our students faculty and other members of our community to maintain our university as an open forum for diverse opinions. Ours is a safe and democratic environment for the expression of views, and we will keep it that way," Rock, who is a former federal minister of Justice in the Jean Chrétien cabinet, said in the statement.

The university indicated it will make no further comment on the matter.

Ottawa police were also issuing statements about the Ann Coulter affair Wednesday

Ottawa police spokesperson Alain Boucher said the police did not shut down the event, but said a different venue was needed to hold the crowd of around 1,500 people.

"We strongly suggested that this venue was not large enough to accommodate all the people that had attended," he said. "We had safety concerns with the sheer number of people that were there...with different views on issues." >>> Matthew Pearson, The Ottawa Citizen | Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ann Coulter Lambastes University of Ottawa and Canada's 'Free' Speech
THE VANCOUVER SUN: ‘It’s always the bush league schools,’ Coulter contends

Ann Coulter. Photograph: The Vancouver Sun
OTTAWA — After protesters at the University of Ottawa prevented Ann Coulter from giving a speech Tuesday night, the American conservative writer said it proved the point she came to make — free speech in Canada leaves much to be desired.

Then she said what she really thought of the student protesters who surrounded Marion Hall, making it to[o] unsafe, in the view of her bodyguard, for the pundit to attempt entry.

“The University of Ottawa is really easy to get into, isn’t it?” she said in an interview after the cancelled event. “I never get any trouble at the Ivy League schools. It’s always the bush-league schools.”

Coulter said she has been speaking regularly at university campuses for a decade. While she has certainly been heckled, she said this is the first time an engagement has been cancelled because of protesters.

“This has never, ever, ever happened before — even at the stupidest American university,” she said.

Coulter remarked on the reception she has had since entering the country.

“Since I’ve arrived in Canada, I’ve been denounced on the floor of Parliament — which, by the way, is on my bucket list — my posters have been banned, I’ve been accused of committing a crime in a speech that I have not yet given, I was banned by the student council, so welcome to Canada!” >>> Zev Singer and Kristy Nease, Ottawa Citizen | Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Gallery: Controversial Quotes from Right-wing U.S. Firebrand Ann Coulter
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Ultra-conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who speaks in Calgary today, is not known for being diplomatic. Check out some of the reasons why.

Check out the photos and the quotes >>>

Related:

Ann Coulter Prepares Human-rights Complaint >>> Steven Chase | Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ann Coulter Prepares Human-rights Complaint
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Right-wing firebrand Ann Coulter, who cancelled her speech to the University of Ottawa Tuesday night over fears for her safety, says she’s the victim of a hate crime under Canadian laws.

She said she’s hired Canadian conservative activist Ezra Levant to prepare a human-rights complaint that will test how equitably these hate-crime laws are applied.

In an interview with The Globe, Ms. Coulter suggested the University of Ottawa’s provost, Francois Houle, is partly responsible for the angry crowds that opposed her speaking Tuesday night. He is the official who warned her in advance to watch what she said lest she incur criminal charges for hate speech.

The tribunal should take her complaint seriously, she said, “because either Francois [Houle] has created a climate of hate against me based on my membership in an identifiable group – or the whole human rights commission is complete horseshit.” >>> Steven Chase | Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Watch video here

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Coulter's shutout: Ann Coulter is a twit and a blowhard (note, I once appeared on the same radio show where she displayed and [sic] appalling ignorance of Canada and the Vietnam War). She lives to get press and have her infamy grow. That makes her money. Sadly, I am feeding that attention beast of hers today. >>> Tim Powers | Wednesday, March 24, 2010

THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Blog – Ottawa Notebook: Ann Coulter attacks gays and Muslims; 
Tories attack medical doctor >>> Jane Taber | Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Ann Coulter's Bony Ass Expelled From Ottawa


Ann Coulter Speech Cancelled After Thousands Protest At University of Ottawa

”There Will Be Blood”
GLOBE AND MAIL: Harvard financial guru Niall Ferguson predicts prolonged financial hardship, even civil war, before the ‘Great Recession' ends

Harvard author and financial crisis guru Niall Ferguson has landed with a thud in Ottawa, spreading messages that could make even the most confident policy makers squirm.

The global crisis is far from over, has only just begun, and Canada is no exception, Mr. Ferguson said in an interview before delivering a presentation to public-policy think tank, Canada 2020.

Policy makers and forecasters who see a recovery next year are probably lying to boost public confidence, he said. And the crisis will eventually provoke political conflict, albeit not on the scale of a world war, but violent all the same.
“There will be blood.”

The Buy America penchant pushed by the U.S. Congress in passing the recent stimulus bill was only the tip of the iceberg.

Abu Dhabi buying Nova Chemicals at bargain-basement prices on Monday is a sign of things to come, with financial power quickly being transferred over to the world's creditors – namely sovereign wealth funds – and away from the world's debtors.

And much of today's mess is the fault of central bankers who targeted consumer-price inflation but purposefully turned a blind eye to asset inflation.

The Laurence A. Tisch professor of history at Harvard University, and author of The Ascent of Money, A Financial History of the World, sat down with The Globe and Mail's economics reporter, Heather Scoffield. >>> Heather Scoffield | Monday, February 23, 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – Canada) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback – Canada) >>>