Endless Blockade

From the CBC:

“Trudeau says government working 'extremely hard' to end rail blockade as premiers demand further action”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday his government is working hard to resolve a two-week long Indigenous blockade that has led to hundreds of layoffs at CN Rail and disrupted the flow of essential goods. Speaking to reporters before a Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill, Trudeau said he's concerned about the disruptions to the economy. "We're working extremely hard to resolve this situation," he said. "We know that people are facing shortages, are facing disruptions, they're facing layoffs. That's unacceptable." Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in question period Wednesday that the Liberal government's inaction has emboldened protesters and privileged "anti-free market radical activists" over Canadian workers. Scheer renewed his call for Ottawa to step in to end the protests. Trudeau said police action to dismantle the rail blockades would be the wrong approach. "We need to resolve it not just for today and tomorrow, but for the weeks and months to come. The approach the leader of the opposition is proposing would not ensure jobs and stability for Canadians in the future. We're focused on resolving it peacefully," Trudeau said in response. Responding to a question from the Bloc Québécois, Trudeau said the government has considered replacing the RCMP with an Indigenous-led law enforcement body on the traditional territory of the Wet'suwet'en. "That's a good idea and it's one among many that we're discussing and considering with B.C.," Trudeau said in French. The Mohawk activists near Belleville, Ont. have said they won't end their rail blockade until the RCMP leaves territory claimed by the Wet'suwet'en in northern B.C. Last week, RCMP arrested protesters there who had been blocking an access road to a natural gas pipeline construction site. Throughout his exchange with opposition members in the Commons today, the prime minister's comments were swamped by chants of "You've done nothing" from the Opposition benches. "The raising of the rhetoric and the temperature by membership of the Official Opposition is not serving to help any of the Canadians facing layoffs or daily disruptions in their lives," Trudeau said. CN Rail said Tuesday it has issued 450 temporary pink slips to employees so far, as the railway's eastern Canadian operations remain shuttered. Hundreds more could follow if the protests continue. A spokesperson for Unifor, the union that represents employees at Via Rail, said 875 workers received layoff notices Wednesday because much of the passenger rail network is shut down. "This general interruption is an unprecedented situation in our history. In 42 years of existence, it is the first time that Via Rail, a public intercity passenger rail service, has to interrupt most of its services across the country," said Cynthia Garneau, president and CEO of Via. "At this point, we believe we have made the fairest and most reasonable decision with the proposed temporary suspension plan," Garneau said of the layoffs. Beyond the job losses, the chemicals industry has warned of impending shortages of propane for home heating, chlorine for municipal water and de-icing fluid for airports. Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly today, Quebec Premier François Legault said Ottawa needs to set a deadline for an end to the blockades. "Mr. Trudeau has to put a deadline in the next few days — not the in the next few weeks — because right now we have jobs at [risk]," Legault said."It's illegal, this blockade. The Canadian economy is suffering and we have to listen to Canadians. Yes, we have to respect Indigenous people, listen to them, but we also need to listen to Canadians, to Quebecers." Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair rejected that request Wednesday, saying he is "reluctant to put a timeline to something. I find that's not a very effective means of negotiation." Francois Legault told reporters in Quebec City that the deadline should be the same across the country 2:04 The Quebec premier said Ottawa should not rule out deploying police to move the protesters off the tracks, but added such a move should be done "in co-ordination with every province." Ottawa has been reluctant to use police to enforce a court injunction because it fears a repeat of the Ipperwash standoff or the Oka crisis. Trudeau has said his government is committed to using "dialogue" instead of force to remove the Indigenous protesters who have shut down CN Rail in Eastern Canada and much of Via Rail's services nationwide by blocking a key artery in southern Ontario. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, the current chair of the Council of the Federation, is convening a conference call with the country's premiers today. He said that, given the "lack of federal leadership in addressing this ongoing illegal activity," it's time for Canada's premiers to step up.  The protesters from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory behind the blockade outside Belleville, Ont. say they are acting in solidarity with some of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C., who oppose the Coastal GasLink pipeline project running through their traditional territory. A new blockade was erected by a group called "Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en" on Wednesday morning, blocking trains on a CN Rail line near Edmonton. The 20 demonstrators said they were also staging the protest "in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en." Demonstrators put up a large tarp-covered barricade with wooden pallets covered with spray-painted banners reading "No consent" and "Reconciliation is dead." Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen tabled a number of motions in the Commons Tuesday — including a motion of non-confidence which, if adopted, could bring down the government and trigger an election. While the likelihood of such a motion passing at this point is slim, Bergen said it's intended to send a signal to the Liberal government that the Official Opposition is "extremely frustrated" by the rail "crisis." "We see the response of the Liberals as being very weak.

 How can this happen in Canada? We are a country of law and order and rules. People are frustrated and they want to know what the government is going to do," she said. Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen says her party lacks confidence in the Liberal government's handling of the rail blockade. Conservatives tabled a number of motions in the Commons Tuesday — including a motion of non-confidence which, if adopted, could bring down the government and trigger an election. During an emergency debate in the Commons late Tuesday, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said there is a clear "path forward" to defuse the ongoing tensions caused by protests that have hamstrung the country's transportation network — despite some Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs refusing to meet with federal officials until after the RCMP leave their territory. "I know that the recent events in B.C. and in various places across the country are deeply concerning to all Canadians. It is a very difficult situation for everyone, for those people who are non-Indigenous, but especially if they are Indigenous," Miller said. "All of Canada is hurting and we are all hoping and working for a peaceful resolution."

^ You can clearly see a difference in Trudeau since the Liberals didn’t win a majority in the last election. He looks and acts like he has just given up. This protest has been going on for 2 weeks now and there is little to no sign that it will end anytime soon. It is clear that the Prime Minister doesn’t have an idea on how to end this countrywide disruption. ^

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-rail-blockade-two-week-1.5468366