Right in the centre - We saw that coming

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Published on Friday, February 18, 2022

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner & Press

 On Monday of this past week, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, implemented the Emergencies Act.

It shouldn’t have been a big surprise. The Emergencies Act replaced the former War Measures Act which, as the name implies, is implemented in times of war. Justin’s father, and former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, implemented it during the FLQ crisis in 1970. The difference then was that the FLQ crisis came after years of unrest in Quebec over independence and after years of demonstrations, unrest, bombings, two kidnappings and a murder.

 The only reason Trudeau junior did the emergencies thing is so he could somehow magically walk in his father’s footsteps. There was no need in this 2022 version of unrest for bringing in the Emergency Act. Several provincial premiers, including Manitoba’s Heather Stefanson, have said so publicly.

 It’s hard not to imagine that the fact that the truckers convoy, turned blockade, is camped out right in front of Trudeau’s office wasn’t part of the decision. In spite of mainstream media doing their best to paint the blockade as violent and dangerous, so far, it is mostly not that at all.

 That said, I believe the convoy has made its point and it’s time to go home. The longer it stays, and the harder some politicians and mainstream media try to paint the blockade as something more than it is, the greater the chance it will morph into something violent and dangerous.

 Case in point, protesters blocked the Ambassador Bridge at Windsor. It was a significant blockade and it was also illegal. It took a bit longer than one would think to clear out. It should have taken place sooner, but  police did peacefully clear the bridge.

 Some politicians were making more of it than it actually was. It’s generally acknowledged that $400 million a day in goods flow across that bridge. That is quite likely true, as a single truck could carry a million dollars of goods and it’s not hard to imagine that 400 trucks a day go across the bridge. However, one politician said in seven days there were huge losses. I am sure there were some losses, but most of those goods were delayed, not lost. There’s a difference.

 And that one small difference is indicative of what is wrong with this whole situation. There are a lot people saying things that aren’t quite what they may be. I admit, I may have made mistakes in things I have written over the years. It’s bound to happen, but the bigger problem is that every statement needs to be examined for its facts. Who said it and why? Is it the truth? There may not be a lot of lies out there, but there certainly is a shortage of facts.

 Perhaps the biggest problem is that many politicians can’t figure out why the truckers (and many other people) are angry. It’s simple, really, and yet, it’s complex. People don’t like to be forced to do things. Vaccinations are being forced. Instead of being angry that somebody isn’t getting vaccinated, maybe listen to their reasons. A few people feel the vaccine isn’t safe and it isn’t completely safe. Some feel the vaccine triggers medical reactions, the experts admit that. I know of four people who “seemed” to react badly to the C-19 vaccine. Three are dead and the fourth one is in hospital, clinging to life.

 The following quote from Tuesday’s Winnipeg Free Press on the leaked convoy donor’s list illustrates people’s frustration with over-bearing governments. It states, “Some donors did not want to discuss the fundraiser. The hacked database includes email addresses for professors teaching at the universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg and Brandon University, one of whom reacted with anger when contacted.

 “You’re contacting me with illegally obtained financial information. And you’re wondering how I feel about the fusion of state, corporate and financial power to subvert legal, grassroots movements,” she replied in an email to the Free Press. “Honestly, what is wrong with you?”

 Throughout all this situation, remember to question everything you see or hear. Just try to do it nicely.

 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the Banner & Press staff.