I'm having a little trouble understanding the need to invoke the federal Emergencies Act. Now, I know precious little about American law and my knowledge of Canadian law is zero or less, but I'm just going to assume that systemically, they function similarly.
I suppose what I'm having a hard time understanding is the apparent inability of this law enforcement situation to be resolved "farther down the chain of command", for lack of a better descriptor. I cannot imagine the more eye-catching aspects of this situation - the ongoing disruption to the lives of the residents of Ottawa in numerous ways and the blockading of international border crossings - as being "legal" in any aspect, even if being perpetrated under the guise of peaceful protest. I suppose the most benign term that can be applied to the situation is civil disobedience, and that has its limits when the rights and welfare of a vast number of citizens are adversely affected by the actions of an obviously militant mélange of a minority acting in bad faith over a sustained period.
I know the Devil's in the details, such as towing companies refusing to cooperate (governmental entities with whom these operators have contracts may want to seriously reconsider those contracts at some not-too-distant point in the future), but beyond that, I think this whole exercise has been a failure of more localized authorities to administer the law in a fair and just way, as has occurred numerous times here in the States of late. No matter how "righteous" the so-called cause behind this debacle, at some point the rowdy school kids hogging the playground facilities need to be told ok, you've had your turn, now get the hell out so the other kids can go on playing. And if they don't, the teachers on hand should remove them, by the scruff of the neck if necessary. If more than a few teachers are needed to do this, well get a couple of janitors or other locals involved. This isn't the type of problem that should have ended up requiring a special decree from the School Board Superintendent to enforce what already must be a host of existing rules (read laws).
Oversimplification? Absolutely. But my point is that in the interest of "fairness" or political correctness or fear of criticism from wailing and snarling talking heads on either side of an issue, or in pursuit of (or in supplication to) the ubiquitous "bothsidesism" of today, law enforcement - fair and just law enforcement - often hesitates to discharge its duties in a timely and correct manner, resulting in situations such as this, going beyond the pale of what most people would find reasonable vis a vie the right to protest peacefully, or to assemble with whom you choose, where you choose, when you choose.
The Ambassador Bridge is not Tiananmen Square, the government of Canada is not the CPC, and I dare say the truckers and others clogging up the works are not truly oppressed in any meaningful way. The fact that the tanks haven't rolled in should give them a clue about this premise. Some sense of proportion is necessary in deciding what action needs to be taken, when, and by whom.
If saying this makes me come off as some closeted authoritarian, so be it. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I am no more than a man who believes in the rights and freedom and liberties of others, who thinks those rights come with certain responsibilities. One of which is to realize that "your rights" to speak your mind don't trump my rights to live my life without certain harms being propagated, such as being able to sleep sans blaring horns, or travel legally where and when I choose, or to buy a simple commodity for which I have a need.
I'm having a little trouble understanding the need to invoke the federal Emergencies Act. Now, I know precious little about American law and my knowledge of Canadian law is zero or less, but I'm just going to assume that systemically, they function similarly.
I suppose what I'm having a hard time understanding is the apparent inability of this law enforcement situation to be resolved "farther down the chain of command", for lack of a better descriptor. I cannot imagine the more eye-catching aspects of this situation - the ongoing disruption to the lives of the residents of Ottawa in numerous ways and the blockading of international border crossings - as being "legal" in any aspect, even if being perpetrated under the guise of peaceful protest. I suppose the most benign term that can be applied to the situation is civil disobedience, and that has its limits when the rights and welfare of a vast number of citizens are adversely affected by the actions of an obviously militant mélange of a minority acting in bad faith over a sustained period.
I know the Devil's in the details, such as towing companies refusing to cooperate (governmental entities with whom these operators have contracts may want to seriously reconsider those contracts at some not-too-distant point in the future), but beyond that, I think this whole exercise has been a failure of more localized authorities to administer the law in a fair and just way, as has occurred numerous times here in the States of late. No matter how "righteous" the so-called cause behind this debacle, at some point the rowdy school kids hogging the playground facilities need to be told ok, you've had your turn, now get the hell out so the other kids can go on playing. And if they don't, the teachers on hand should remove them, by the scruff of the neck if necessary. If more than a few teachers are needed to do this, well get a couple of janitors or other locals involved. This isn't the type of problem that should have ended up requiring a special decree from the School Board Superintendent to enforce what already must be a host of existing rules (read laws).
Oversimplification? Absolutely. But my point is that in the interest of "fairness" or political correctness or fear of criticism from wailing and snarling talking heads on either side of an issue, or in pursuit of (or in supplication to) the ubiquitous "bothsidesism" of today, law enforcement - fair and just law enforcement - often hesitates to discharge its duties in a timely and correct manner, resulting in situations such as this, going beyond the pale of what most people would find reasonable vis a vie the right to protest peacefully, or to assemble with whom you choose, where you choose, when you choose.
The Ambassador Bridge is not Tiananmen Square, the government of Canada is not the CPC, and I dare say the truckers and others clogging up the works are not truly oppressed in any meaningful way. The fact that the tanks haven't rolled in should give them a clue about this premise. Some sense of proportion is necessary in deciding what action needs to be taken, when, and by whom.
If saying this makes me come off as some closeted authoritarian, so be it. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I am no more than a man who believes in the rights and freedom and liberties of others, who thinks those rights come with certain responsibilities. One of which is to realize that "your rights" to speak your mind don't trump my rights to live my life without certain harms being propagated, such as being able to sleep sans blaring horns, or travel legally where and when I choose, or to buy a simple commodity for which I have a need.