Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #4

[Sundog]

Ottawa plans to change border rules next week as pressure grows to end protests

Article has paywall, but this is the headline and first paragraph of the MSM article.

 

[Satchie]

Ottawa plans to change border rules next week as pressure grows to end protests

Article has paywall, but this is the headline and first paragraph of the MSM article.

The American President called, that's why.

PM says 'everything' on the table to end blockades following Biden call

 

[Satchie]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was snowmobiling while Ottawa dealt with Freedom Convoy protests

Ontario premier goes on winter retreat after calling convoy a 'siege'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was snowmobiling while Ottawa dealt with Freedom Convoy protests

"You call it a ‘siege,' Ottawa police said it was an ‘insurrection’ … can you explain why you decided to go snowmobiling during a stated insurrection and siege in Ottawa?" CTV News' Collin D'Mello asked Ford moments after the Ontario leader declared a state of emergency over the demonstrations.

I do think that's a silly question from the media, though. Of course blocking the biggest industrial border crossing in North America is a much bigger deal than blocking downtown Ottawa.

 

[otto]

Foreign USA interference with Canada's economy.

"Trudeau said nefarious actors from the U.S. have fuelled these Canadian protests and other disruptions. He said Americans were behind a recent effort to jam the 911 emergency line in Ottawa. He also said at least 50 per cent of the money raised online to fund the Ottawa convoy and other related protests has come from the U.S."
​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-severe-consequences-demonstrators-1.6348661

 

[JDG]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was snowmobiling while Ottawa dealt with Freedom Convoy protests

Ontario premier goes on winter retreat after calling convoy a 'siege'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was snowmobiling while Ottawa dealt with Freedom Convoy protests

"You call it a ‘siege,' Ottawa police said it was an ‘insurrection’ … can you explain why you decided to go snowmobiling during a stated insurrection and siege in Ottawa?" CTV News' Collin D'Mello asked Ford moments after the Ontario leader declared a state of emergency over the demonstrations.

Was he supposed to spend every moment in front of the tv wringing his hands?

Some people read or go for a walk as a break, he went snowmobiling. Not an issue, at all.

 

[Sundog]

Ottawa vows update on COVID-19 border rules next week: ‘The worst is behind us’ - National | Globalnews.ca

 

[Satchie]

Ottawa vows update on COVID-19 border rules next week: ‘The worst is behind us’ - National | Globalnews.ca

So maybe they'll drop the vaccination requirement for American truckers? Is that what this has really been about, a undercover operation by US truckers and their supporters to allow them to continue to be exempt?

Unless the US drops the vaccine mandate on Canadian truckers, nothing will change for them.

 

[MistyWaters]

So maybe they'll drop the vaccination requirement for American truckers? Is that what this has really been about, a undercover operation by US truckers and their supporters to allow them to continue to be exempt?

Unless the US drops the vaccine mandate on Canadian truckers, nothing will change for them.

If I’m understanding this correctly, indeed there isn’t a US vaccine mandate for US truckers crossing the border to the US. It appears it specifies foreign truckers entering only. So unless the US drops their mandate, Canadian truckers wouldn’t be able to cross the border without a vaccination regardless of what Canada does.

Foreign Truckers Must Be Vaccinated to Enter US Starting Jan. 22
“Starting Jan. 22, travelers entering the United States at land ports of entry — notably along the Canadian and Mexican borders — and ferry points who are not U.S. citizens must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security announced.

The requirement, which takes effect at 12 a.m. ET that day, does not apply to U.S. drivers. However, Canada and Mexico have similar regulations in place that do impact U.S. drivers — including truck drivers — who make cross-border runs…”

 

[Satchie]

If I’m understanding this correctly, there isn’t a US vaccine mandate for US truckers crossing the border to the US. It appears it specifies foreign truckers entering only (ie Canada).

Foreign Truckers Must Be Vaccinated to Enter US Starting Jan. 22
“Starting Jan. 22, travelers entering the United States at land ports of entry — notably along the Canadian and Mexican borders — and ferry points who are not U.S. citizens must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security announced.

The requirement, which takes effect at 12 a.m. ET that day, does not apply to U.S. drivers. However, Canada and Mexico have similar regulations in place that do impact U.S. drivers — including truck drivers — who make cross-border runs…”

Yes, that's what I meant. The Canadian mandate blocks unvaxxed US truckers. There is a potential vaccine mandate for interprovincial trucking, but it hasn't been enacted.

Canada doesn't control who enters the US, that's up to the US.

 

[MistyWaters]

Yes, that's what I meant. The Canadian mandate blocks unvaxxed US truckers. There is a potential vaccine mandate for interprovincial trucking, but it hasn't been enacted.

Canada doesn't control who enters the US, that's up to the US.

Yes as it stands, if Canada revoked the vaccine mandate then the cross-border trucking industry would consist of American truck drivers who could legally drive back and forth between Canada and the US without vaccinations and it’s estimated between only 50% to 60% are vaccinated. Canadian trucker vaccination rate is estimated at 90%. So what I don’t quite understand is how the trucking mandate is an issue solely landing in the laps of the Canadian government.

Trudeau plays dangerous game with U.S. trucker vaccine rules - BNN Bloomberg

 

[dotr]

Canadian Trucker Protest Live Updates: Deadline Passes, But Truckers Refuse To Leave (newsweek.com)
Now20:11 PM EST
''1 hour after deadline, crowd of protestors grows
One hour on from the implementation of a legal injunction forcing the truckers at the Ambassador Bridge to disperse, no such thing appears to have happened. Reporters at the scene stated that the crowd has grown in size ever since the deadline passed.''

''Police have threatened to issue arrests and also impound the vehicles of the truckers if they do not disperse. Officials have said that a state of emergency will be enacted at midnight, at which time arrests are expected to begin for those remaining.''
rbbm.

 

[Satchie]

Yes as it stands, if Canada revoked the vaccine mandate then the cross-border trucking industry would consist of American truck drivers who could legally drive back and forth between Canada and the US without vaccinations and it’s estimated between only 50% to 60% are vaccinated. Canadian trucker vaccination rate is estimated at 90%. So what I don’t quite understand is how the trucking mandate is an issue solely landing in the laps of the Canadian government.

Trudeau plays dangerous game with U.S. trucker vaccine rules - BNN Bloomberg

Yes, that is a peculiar article.

This earlier report by an American trucking magazine doesn't predict such dire consequences:

"It’s nothing catastrophic and some folks are scrambling a little bit.”

Foreign Truckers Must Be Vaccinated to Enter US Starting Jan. 22

 

[Satchie]

Canadian Trucker Protest Live Updates: Deadline Passes, But Truckers Refuse To Leave (newsweek.com)
Now20:11 PM EST
''1 hour after deadline, crowd of protestors grows
One hour on from the implementation of a legal injunction forcing the truckers at the Ambassador Bridge to disperse, no such thing appears to have happened. Reporters at the scene stated that the crowd has grown in size ever since the deadline passed.''

''Police have threatened to issue arrests and also impound the vehicles of the truckers if they do not disperse. Officials have said that a state of emergency will be enacted at midnight, at which time arrests are expected to begin for those remaining.''
rbbm.

I guess they will lock themselves in their trucks? Time to check their supplies of food and water, and empty their portable toilets. They'll run out of gas soon enough and start to get cold.

JMO

 

[otto]

Yes as it stands, if Canada revoked the vaccine mandate then the cross-border trucking industry would consist of American truck drivers who could legally drive back and forth between Canada and the US without vaccinations and it’s estimated between only 50% to 60% are vaccinated. Canadian trucker vaccination rate is estimated at 90%. So what I don’t quite understand is how the trucking mandate is an issue solely landing in the laps of the Canadian government.

Trudeau plays dangerous game with U.S. trucker vaccine rules - BNN Bloomberg

That's the really stupid thing about the protest. Even if Trudeau were to extent the vaccine exemption for truckers, Canadian truckers still can't enter the USA without the vaccine or a 5 day quarantine. Add to this the fact that the Coutts border blockade got everything they want and still refuse to move, so we know that they are acting/negotiating in bad faith. The protesters will continue to move the goal posts every time they get what they want.

 

[MistyWaters]

That's the really stupid thing about the protest. Even if Trudeau were to extent the vaccine exemption for truckers, Canadian truckers still can't enter the USA without the vaccine or a 5 day quarantine. Add to this the fact that the Coutts border blockade got everything they want and still refuse to move, so we know that they are acting/negotiating in bad faith. The protesters will continue to move the goal posts every time they get what they want.

I don’t think anyone really knows what it is they want and it’s not even clear who’s leading the protest. IMO that’s what an government appointed negotiator should be finding out if ever there’s going to be a timely and peaceful end to this. JMO

 

[Sundog]

I guess they will lock themselves in their trucks? Time to check their supplies of food and water, and empty their portable toilets. They'll run out of gas soon enough and start to get cold.

JMO

It amazes me that no one in the country or community has stepped in to offer to help negotiate between the government and the truckers. Usually in situations like these, someone from the civic sector who is well known in the community or country is able to negotiate to find a win/win for both sides, but it is oddly not happening which is a strange social and cultural phenomenon. Wonder why the strange silence.

Edited by me - my internet shut down while I was typing and had to rewrite

 

[Sundog]

I don’t think anyone really knows what it is they want and it’s not even clear who’s leading the protest. IMO that’s what an government appointed negotiator should be finding out if ever there’s going to be a timely and peaceful end to this. JMO

I don't think it should be a government appointed negotiator, there is no trust in the government to resolve this, I think it has to be a well-respected third party outside of government. Both sides should respect the person and be involved in his/her selection.

They should start with a truce tonight, have one lane open for traffic across the bridge, and get a negotiator in as quickly as possible. I am sure there are names of a few people who would qualify, and that are fair and open-minded.

Anyway, praying for peace tonight for all involved, and a peaceful resolution that both sides can live with.

 

[Satchie]

I don’t think anyone really knows what it is they want and it’s not even clear who’s leading the protest. IMO that’s what an government appointed negotiator should be finding out if ever there’s going to be a timely and peaceful end to this. JMO

The Conservative party has been meeting with the convoy. They're the ones that can present their demands in parliament, which they are planning to do (at least the ones they can do, like call for an end to federal vaccinate mandates). Yesterday they asked for the protest to end. Conservatives call for blockades to end, pushing feds to end COVID-19 mandates

IMO, this is why Trudeau is acting now, the Conservatives have failed to negotiate an end to the protests.

 

[Satchie]

I don't think it should be a government appointed negotiator, there is no trust in the government to resolve this, I think it has to be a well-respected third party outside of government. Both sides should respect the person and be involved in his/her selection.

They should start with a truce tonight, have one lane open for traffic across the bridge, and get a negotiator in as quickly as possible. I am sure there are names of a few people who would qualify, and that are fair and open-minded.

Anyway, praying for peace tonight for all involved, and a peaceful resolution that both sides can live with.

I'm not sure whether you're familiar with the Royal Commission process in Canada, which is what you're describing. It usually takes about 5 years.

 

[MistyWaters]

I don't think it should be a government appointed negotiator, there is no trust in the government to resolve this, I think it has to be a well-respected third party outside of government. Both sides should respect the person and be involved in his/her selection.

They should start with a truce tonight, have one lane open for traffic across the bridge, and get a negotiator in as quickly as possible. I am sure there are names of a few people who would qualify, and that are fair and open-minded.

Anyway, praying for peace tonight for all involved, and a peaceful resolution that both sides can live with.

I recall the truckers initial demands were to meet with the Prime Minister but he has refused. However I’m reminded of the rail blockades of 2020 which put rail transport in Canada to a complete halt, causing a severe backlog at shipping ports, then talks with government officials were eventually held resulting in a peaceful ending. So it baffles me how the trucking protest is being handled so differently.

It doesn’t matter who negotiates however professional negotiation is both a science and an art and for that reason perhaps not everyone would be successful. But I’m not sure Canada has a well- respected third party who’s willing and able, and who meets the criteria of being acceptable to both sides. And the way things usually slog along in Canada, it probably would take months or years before a selection was made. JMO

First day of meetings between ministers, Wet’suwet’en chiefs wraps up on positive note | Globalnews.ca
“Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and the federal and B.C. ministers of Indigenous relations wrapped up a first day of talks Thursday with no resolution, but with plans to resume meeting Friday morning.

The chiefs tell Global News the talks in Smithers, B.C., went well as all sides attempt to find a solution to the dispute over the Coastal GasLink pipeline project…”