Ford asks protesters to take their children home

TORONTO, ON, Feb. 10, 2022 – Today at Queen’s Park, in order to provide additional tools to help stop what Premier Ford calls the illegal occupation of Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Premier Doug Ford officially declared a State of Emergency in Ontario.

“Today, I’m using my authority as Premier of Ontario to declare a State of Emergency in our province and I will convene cabinet to use legal authorities to urgently enact orders that will make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure,” said Premier Ford.

“This will include protecting international border crossings, 400 series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways. It will also include protecting the safe and essential movement of ambulatory and medical services, municipal and provincial roadways as well as pedestrian walkways.”

Ontario’s Premier also said there will be stiff fines of up to $100,000 for non-compliance along with possible jail time and possible removal of personal and commercial licenses.

“People want to see action and that’s what we are taking,” Ford told reporters. “We’re taking decisive action to make sure we end the occupation and we get the goods on the Ambassador Bridge travelling back and forth freely without anyone impeding their transportation. This is critical to our economy and it’s not gonna be tolerated. In saying that I want this to be peaceful.” said Ford.

“Fines for non-compliance will be severe with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment,” said Ford. “We will also provide additional authority to consider taking away the personal and commercial licenses of anyone who doesn’t comply with these orders. This will not impede the rights of Ontarians to peacefully protest. It will provide additional tools to help stop the illegal occupation of Ottawa and the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.”

Ford said about the pandemic, the restrictions, and frustrations of the people: “I know that this has been extremely difficult. Watching businesses close, livelihoods lost, freedoms restricted, none of this has been easy. People are frustrated; they’re scared; they’re angry. And I know these frustrations have reached a boiling point for many Canadians. The result is what we are seeing in our province, in various cities and across the country.”

Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the right of hundreds of thousands of workers to earn a living. It does not outweigh our right to get food across our borders. Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the rights of people in Ottawa to live peacefully, free of harassment and chaos in their own homes.”
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

But the Premier was very quick to point out that although one of the great things about living in Canada is “our right to free speech, the right to choose our government by voting for leaders that best represent us, the right to peacefully protest when we disagree with what our government is doing” like all rights these are not without reasonable limits.

“And while I appreciate the right to protest, that right can not and must not extend to cutting off that lifeline,” said Ford who called the protest in Ottawa a siege. “I call it a siege because that’s what it is. It’s an illegal occupation. This is no longer a protest. With a protest you peacefully make your point and you go back home. And I know that the vast majority of the people did that. They came they peacefully demonstrated. They made their point and they left. And I want to say to those people ‘you’ve been heard loud and clear. Canada has heard you.'”

The Premier also strongly advised protesters to take their children home. “My message to those still in Ottawa, to those at our border crossings please go home. To those of you who have brought your children please take them home. I urge you it’s time to leave, and it’s time to do so peacefully.”

Premier Ford then painted a very clear picture about why it is time for protesters to move on, referring to the remaining Ottawa protesters as hostage takers and “occupiers”, and those blockading at the Ambassador Bridge as forcing a political agenda by infringing on the rights of hundreds of thousands of Canadians to earn a living.

“But to the very small groups who have chosen to take a different path; to those who have chosen to take a city of one million people hostage for the past two weeks; to those who have attempted to disrupt our way of life by targeting our lifeline for food, fuel and goods across our borders; to those trying to force a political agenda through disruption intimidation and chaos, my message to you is this:

“Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the right of hundreds of thousands of workers to earn a living. It does not outweigh our right to get food across our borders. Your right to make a political statement does not outweigh the rights of people in Ottawa to live peacefully, free of harassment and chaos in their own homes.”

Meanwhile in terms of the Province removing proof of vaccinations, Premier Ford told reporters today that the province will listen to Dr. Moore’s recommendations. Cabinet meets tomorrow to go over any amendments.

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