Saskatchewan Premier Pledges To End All COVID Restrictions As Ottawa Braces For More Protests

Update (1600ET): As Ottawa braces for thousands of protesters to converse on the city this weekend just like they did last weekend to support the “Freedom Convoy” truckers, the premier of Saskatchewan publicly declared on Thursday that he would end all COVID restrictions later this month.

Premier Scott Moe declared Thursday that “it’s time to look at ending all COVID restrictions…people are asking their government for a return to normal, and a removal of public health restrictions.”

Watch the dominos fall…

FYI Premier Scott Moe, the governor of Saskatchewan, a Canadian province that borders the US, announces an end to all COVID regulations — including passports — in his province: “It’s time to look at ending all remaining Covid measures and restrictions.” pic.twitter.com/VshObO39HB

— Paul (@Pauljanz11) February 3, 2022

Meanwhile, a group of parliamentarians from Saskatchewan made their way to the “Freedom Convoy” protest in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 2 to voice their support.

A few of our SK Caucus members went to show our appreciation for the hardworking, patriotic truckers who have kept our supply chains healthy & grocery shelves stocked for the past two years. It’s great to see Canadians championing freedom on Parliament Hill. #freedomconvoy22 pic.twitter.com/5sJwLJ8p9E

— Kevin Waugh (@KevinWaugh_CPC) February 3, 2022

Organizers of the Freedom Convoy have called on supporters to call their elected representatives to express their displeasure with the mandates.

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Overnight, truckers with the Freedom Convoy who have gathered in Coutts, Alberta near the border with Montana managed to refuel and re-supply as supporters continued to contribute to keep the protests going even as the RCMP continue to surround them in a blockade that has disrupted commerce – something the government has tried to blame on the truckers.

Truckers, farmers, & other supporters being blocked from joining the Coutts blockade at the Milk River police barrier, though some trucks not related are being let through

Help the Coutts blockaders legal defence at https://t.co/FgSvcLwSPy pic.twitter.com/aXlhXJRlJ9

— Syd Fizzard (@SydFizzard) February 3, 2022

But back in Ottawa, where hundreds of protesters remain camped out after this weekend’s Freedom Rally at the seat of Canadian government, locals – and local officials (who have already tried to seize money raised for the truckers on GoFundMe) are growing increasingly anxious, since organizers expect the number of supporters in Ottawa to swell in the coming days as the weekend arrives and with it, another wave of protests.

The movement’s organizers have pledged not to relent until the Canadian government drops some of its more draconian policies, including a quarantine requirement that essentially would make life impossible for unvaccinated truckers.

He conceded the protest would likely grow again this coming weekend and “there may not be a policing solution” to resolve the impasse.

Tamara Lich, a spokeswoman for the protestors, said she and fellow organizers had been surprised by the turnout at first “but we are now well organized and are settling in, until Canada is a free nation again.”

Unfortunately, it seems like local police are insistent on cracking down; they have arrested a handful of demonstrators for a range of charges including carrying a “weapon” to “posting threats on social media”.

Police acknowledged to the BBC that demonstrators have come from “all parts of Canada” and some even from the US.

“Most demonstrators have left,” police chief Peter Sloly said at a Wednesday news conference. “What remains is a highly determined and highly volatile group of unlawful individuals.”

He conceded the protest would likely grow again this coming weekend and “there may not be a policing solution” to resolve the impasse.

As we noted above, some Ottawa officials have suggested trying to cut off the supply of donations financing the truckers. One even proposed suing GoFundMe to block the money raised by supporters from reaching the truckers, whom the council member described as “mercenaries” who are “unlawfully occupying our communities”.

NOW – #Ottawa City Council: “We need cut off the pipeline of funding to these… mercenaries that are unlawfully protesting and occupying our communities.” pic.twitter.com/9i0j0VuYYi

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 2, 2022

While some locals have complained about the disruptions, one organizer of the Freedom Truckers movement tried to explain that blame for these disruptions lies with the Canadian government.

In a statement, Chris Barber – one of the convoy leaders – said the group understood those frustrations but was also being bullied by politicians and members of the press.

“The responsibility for your inconvenience lies squarely on the shoulders of politicians who prefer to vilify and call us names rather than engage in respectful, serious dialogue,” he said.

But the BBC also parroted MSM lies about the truckers out in Coutts, claiming that they had blocked commercial traffic along the border for five days. The decision to block traffic was made by the RCMP, not the truckers. It also quoted the mayor of the small community in Coutts, who claimed the truckers were responsible for the small community being cut off from gas and groceries for days.

But, again, the truckers aren’t the ones setting up the roadblocks.

Meanwhile, the truckers’ protests have garnered support and inspired others in Europe to try and organize a convoy of their own that will converge on Brussels at an unspecified date.

To end things on a lighter note: supporters of the truckers have been stirring up mischief by calling 911 to inquire about PM Justin Trudeau’s whereabouts. According to a WSJ reporter, local authorities have asked them to kindly desist.

Ottawa police chief Sloly says 911 operators receiving a lot of nuisance calls, such as people asking about PM Trudeau’s whereabouts.

— Paul Vieira (@paulvieira) February 2, 2022