Gunman Shot to Death in Failed Attack on Parliament
A radical ex-convict,
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, sent shock wave across the entire nation by his heinous act of striking against the seat of power at Ottawa. He first opened fire on the sole guard standing at the entrance of Canada's War Memorial, killing the guard,
Cpl. Nathan Cirillo. Then the attacker,
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, entered the country's parliament, leading to the lockdown of the House of Commons. The hours-long ordeal on
October 22, 2014 ended after the chamber's Sergeant-at-Arms
Kevin Vickers opened fire and killed the assailant. Prime Minister
Stephen Harper called the rampage a terrorist act. The attack on the war memorial and parliament occurred two days after a recent convert to Islam, who was upset as his passport was seized after he had planned going to Turkey, rammed his car to strike against soldiers, killing one and injuring a second one before being shot dead.
Parliamentary Elections in October
Prime Minister
Stephen Harper on
August 2, 2015 dissolved the parliament, triggering months of a possible bare-knuckle campaign by parties in the run-up to the
October 19, 2015, parliamentary polls. If Harper's party returns to the power, he will be the first premier to return for the four successive terms since 1908.
Former Leader's Son Leads a Moribund Opposition Party to Victory
Justin Trudeau, 43-year-old son of Canada's former premier
Pierre Elliot Trudeau, led Liberal Party to a sweeping victory in
October 19, 2015, parliamentary polls, by garnering
39.5 percent vote. Trudeau, a member of parliament since 2008, was not only able to stem the erosion of Liberal base, but was also successful in capturing votes from opposition New Democrats as well as Conservatives led by incumbent Stephen Harper. Trudeau took the helm of his foundering party in 2013, and in a remarkable political turnaround, led the party to the best showing in the past 40 years. In the victory speech in early
October 20, 2015, Trudeau quoted
Wilfrid Laurier, another popular, liberal premier, who ruled Canada almost a century ago, that "sunny ways" were the Trudeau ways. Under the new Liberal Party administration, there will be significant shift in foreign policy ranging from withdrawing six warplanes from the air campaign in Syria to softening of the anti-Iran nuclear agreement to embracing efforts to cut greenhouse gases. On
October 20, 2015, US President Barack Obama called Trudeau to congratulate him for his party's resounding victory.
Trudeau will be sworn in on
November 4, 2015, and will be officiated by
Governor General David Johnston.
Canada Phases in the Re-settlement of Syrian Refugees
Faced with
November 13, 2015, Paris attacks, Canada's new administration of premier Justin Trudeau on
November 24, 2015 announced a phased re-settlement plan of Syrian refugees in Canada with 10,000 by the end of this year and 15,000 by the end of
February 2016. Earlier, the plan was to re-settle all the 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this year. Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said that military barracks would be used to provide initial shelters to incoming refugees. With plan to re-settle 25,000 refugees, Canada joins with other nations to share migrant re-settlement plan with USA to accept 10,000, Germany having already accepted 758,000 between January and October 2015, and Sweden expected to take in 200,000 this year.
Governor-General Gives Preview of New Trudeau Administration
Canada's
Governor-General David Johnston on
December 4, 2015 inaugurated a new session of the parliament by outlining the agenda of premier
Justin Trudeau administration. Delivering the speech from the Throne, Governor-General said that the new administration would
* Legalize and regulate recreational marijuana
* Cut taxes for middle class
* Extend child care benefit
Discrimination against Transgender People to be Banned
The justice minister of the premier
Justin Trudeau administration on
May 17, 2016 introduced a bill to be submitted in parliament that would ban any discrimination against transgender people. Introducing the bill in presence of a 12-year-old transgender female,
Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, the
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said that the bill was "a message to all Canadians that we live in a time where discrimination in any form is completely unacceptable".
* Boost infrastructure spending
Canada Signs a Landmark Trade Pact with EU
After seven years of intense, but cordial, negotiation, a trade agreement was reached between Canada and European Union in
February 2016. The deal is billed a success story for EU where a strong wind of protectionism has been growing in recent year. As part of EU rules, member states had to ratify the deal, and it took an additional eight months to get it almost done. As the pact was to be signed at Brussels on
October 27, 2016, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau had to call off his visit at the last minute as a Belgian region,
Wallonia, took a strong stand against the
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA. Under Belgian rule, each region has to ratify the deal, and the move by Wallonia has embarrassed Belgium. After some fence-mending and hand-wringing,
CETA was signed on
October 30, 2016 at Brussels in presence of
Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Under the deal, European exporters will save an estimated 500 million euro per year in tariff.
Canadian Premier Lauds Free Market
Addressing the
European Parliament based in Strasbourg, France, first ever by any Canadian premier,
Justin Trudeau on
February 16, 2017 sang the praise of free-market trade deal, like the one that had been signed between Canada and EU on
October 30, 2016 and approved by the European Parliament on
February 15, 2017. Under
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, a result of seven years of arduous talks, tariffs on industrial and agricultural products will be slashed and services sectors such as telecommunications and financial services will be opened up.
Bill to Decriminalize Recreational Marijuana
Canadian government of
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on
April 13, 2017 tabled a bill in the parliament that would decriminalize the recreation marijuana effective
July 2018.
Canadian Hostage, Wife Rescued by Pak Military
Through U.S. intelligence help, Pakistani military on
October 11, 2017 rescued Canadian hostage
Joshua Boyle, his American wife Caitlan Coleman, and couple's three children, ending a five-year saga in which Coleman gave birth to two boys and a girl. In a press release, Pakistani military said on October 12, 2017 that the rescue was carried out based on "an intelligence-based operation" in coordination with U.S. agencies.
Vehicular Attack Kills 10, Injures 15
A white rental van plowed through a busy
Ottawa street on
April 23, 2018, systemically mowing the pedestrians to the ground and leaving a trail of macabre devastation. The motive of the suspect, later identified as
Alek Minassian, 25 , was not known, but the attack, which had killed
10 people and injured 15, led the city to the edge.
Suspected Attacker Accused of Harboring Hatred for Woman
A day after a vibrant Ottawa street was turned into a deadly zone of grisly attack, authorities on
April 24, 2018 divulged more on the suspected attacker,
Alek Minassian, saying that he had grudge against woman. During the day, Minassian was charged with 10 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
Canada on Pathway to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
Canadian Senate on
June 8, 2018 passed a legislation by
56-30 vote to take the northern neighbor of America a step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational purpose and becoming only the second nation on the planet to do so after Uruguay. The legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year. Now, the measure goes to House of Commons that would either vote for or against the amendments.
*************************** G-7 SUMMIT AT LA MALBAIE ************************
G-7 Summit to Tense up
This year's G-7 Summit, to be held at the Quebec resort town of La Malbaie, is expected to be tense and heated as other nations are enraged by Trump administration's action to impose tariffs on allies. Already before the summit's (June 8-9, 2018) beginning, there was a sense of palpable opposition to Trump's tariff plan as six finance ministers on June 7, 2018 singled out USA for criticism for Washington's isolationist policies.
Trump Arrives, Lukewarm Support from Allies for His Call for Russia's Re-admission
Donald Trump on June 8, 2018 arrived at the Quebec resort town of La Malbaie on the bank of St. Lawrence River, and he was received by Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire. In a renewed zeal, Trump called for Russia's re-admission to G-7 from where Moscow had been expelled in 2014 after annexation of Crimea and its intervention in Eastern Ukraine. However, the response from most other G-7 members was swift and bold negative. What perplexed allies and political observers was that Trump made the comment for Russia's re-admission not at the venue, but at the White House as he was walking to board on Marine One. Only support came from the premier of Italy's new conservative, ultra-right government as Giuseppe Conte welcomed Trump's comment with a tweet that "Russia should return to G8".
Trump Leaves in a Huff, Tweets Blasting Trudeau
It was a chaotic end for a summit which historically portrayed a rigid semblance of unity and diplomatic bonds, and looked more like G6+1, with U.S. left on the sidelines. What was unprecedented was that the final joint statement issued at the conclusion of the G7 summit on June 9, 2018 included signatures from six leaders. It did not have endorsement from Trump or any other U.S. official. The acrimony was palpable as Trump left the summit halfway, and tweeted en route Singapore, calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "weak" and "dishonest". The final communique was not signed by the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer although it was agreed earlier that the U.S.T.R. would sign the declaration on behalf of Trump. What might have irked Trump was Justin Trudeau's open pronouncement--after Trump left for Singapore--that "as Canadians, we are polite, we're reasonable, but also we will not be pushed around". Trump had a tense, often confrontational meeting with G-7 heads during one-and-half-day closed door meeting at La Malbaie. Trump railed the allies for trade deals that had hurt American people.
Insults Heaped on Trudeau by Trump Aides
A day after U.S. President Donald Trump cut left the G-7 summit halfway to fly to Singapore without signing the final communique either by himself, or any other American official, for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump's aides appeared on Sunday TV circuits on June 10, 2018, and hurled insult and vile against G-7 leaders, especially Canadian premier Justin Trudeau. Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow, appearing on CNN's State of the Union, accused Trudeau of stabbing "us in the back". Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro went a step further. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Navarro said on June 10, 2018: "There is a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad-faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door". However, other nations in G-7 rallied behind Canada, and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was emphatic on June 10, 2018, calling out that it was Canada that had felt "insulted" as U.S. imposed tariffs citing "national security" justification. Taken aback by ad hominem attack by Trump administration officials, France's Elysee Palace issued a statement that "international cooperation can not depend on anger and small words". German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urged European nations on June 10, 2018 to talk and take action in unison. Even America's strongest ally Britain threw its full support to Justin Trudeau.
*************************** G-7 SUMMIT AT LA MALBAIE ************************
Canadian Senate on
June 19, 2018 approved a bill championed by premier Justin Trudeau to allow recreational use of marijuana, a step closer to become only the second nation to do so after Uruguay. The bill was passed by
House of Commons on
June 18, 2018, and was now headed to the representative of
Queen Elizabeth II.
Recreational Marijuana to become Legal on October 17, 2018
The law championed by
Justin Trudeau will make recreation use of pot legal effective
October 17, 2018. Favoring the measure, Trudeau said on
June 20, 2018 that it would hurt the organized crime business.
Canada Opens Doors for Recreational Marijuana
Canada on
October 17, 2018 became the first industrialized nation to legalize small amount of marijuana for recreational purpose. Medical marijuana has already been legal since 2001. Under the federal statute that went into effect on
October 17, 2018, carrying and sharing 30 grams of dried cannabis, enough to make 60 regular-size joints, became legal as well as four home-grown marijuana plants.
Trudeau Apologizes for Turning away the Jewish Migrants
Canada on
November 7, 2018 partially tried to reconcile and redress its past as
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to the floor of House of Commons to make a full-fledged apology for Canadian government's callous action 79 years ago to turn away more than 900 Jewish refugees. Just at the dawn of World War II, an ocean liner left Europe in
May 1939 with more than 1,000 refugees, including
907 German Jews. Every step in their voyage, the Jewish refugees faced discrimination and refusal. First Cuba refused to allow the refugees to disembark, then U.S. refused, and the last, Ottawa refused the
M.S. St. Louis as the ocean liner was off the coast of
Halifax, forcing the refugees to return to Europe where
254 of them later perished in the
Holocaust.
Canada Worried about Death Sentence Imposed by China on One of Its Citizens
Canadian premier,
Justin Trudeau, on
January 14, 2019 expressed dismay, "extreme concern" and worry over the renewed sentencing imposed on a jailed Canadian by a Chinese court. The defendant, a 36-year-old Canadian citizen,
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, was detained in 2014 by Chinese authorities for smuggling methamphetamine, and later sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. The case went unnoticed for the most part until a Chinese court had re-opened the case days after a Huawei executive had been arrested in Vancouver on an American arrest warrant, precipitating a political crisis between Ottawa and Beijing, and resentenced Schellenberg to death.
Canada Lurches into Crisis after Two of Trudeau's Ministers Resign
First it was
Jody Wilson-Raybould. Former Attorney-General and Justice Minister. Now,
Treasury Board President Jane Philpott. The duo of resignations has hit Trudeau administration hard a year before election, and revived the conservative base, with the
Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer demanding that
Justin Trudeau resign immediately over his administration sliding into "total chaos". It all began as the then-
A.G. Jody Wilson-Raybould wanted to launch an investigation against a major Canadian engineering company for skirting the Libya sanctions, but to no avail as premier, Justin Trudeau, himself had put pressure against it on the ground that a sizable number of people's employment was at stake. Subsequently,
Jody Wilson-Raybould was demoted to the position of veterans affairs minister, leading to her to resign from the Justin Trudeau cabinet last month (
February 2019). On
March 4, 2019, Wilson-Raybould's close political ally and Treasury Board head
Jane Philpott stepped down on the ground that she could no more defend her own government. The pair of resignations leave
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau politically vulnerable a year before 2020 parliamentary polls.
Trudeau Denies Putting Undue Pressure on Former AG
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on
March 7, 2019 called the resignation of former Attorney-General and Justice Minister
Jody Wilson-Raybould as a result of "erosion of trust" and "lack of communication". Last week Jody Wilson-Raybould said during a parliamentary hearing that Trudeau pressured her not to prosecute the engineering firm
SNC-Lavalin and instead fine it. Trudeau said on
March 7, 2019 that
Jody Wilson-Raybould had told him on
September 17, 2018 that she would reject any remediation effort in this case, but thought that it [remediation] would still be possible until last minute. In
January 2019, as part of cabinet re-shuffle,
Jody Wilson-Raybould was assigned to veterans ministry, a demotion by all means, and she had resigned in
February 2019. Trudeau's former chief aide,
Gerald Butts, appeared before a parliamentary panel on March 6, 2019 and denied that there was any political motive behind the cabinet re-shuffle. Justin Trudeau's backers have continued standing behind the beleaguered premier on the ground that any criminal prosecution of
SNC-Lavalin will definitely cause employment retrenchment. The scandal led to three resignations, including
Jody Wilson-Raybould, Jane Philpott and
Gerald Butts.
Trudeau Ousts Two Dissident Former Ministers from Party Leadership
Facing a tough reelection within months, Canadian premier, Justin Trudeau, on
April 2, 2019 began much anticipated housecleaning by purging two ex-ministers--former
A.G. Jody Wilson-Raybound and former Treasury Board President Jane Philpot--from the
Liberal Party caucus.
Trudeau Held for Ethics Violation
Canada's Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion on August 14, 2019 issued a report, accusing
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of violating the country's ethics rule when he had pressured the former attorney-general,
Jody Wilson-Raybould, for arriving at a mediated settlement with the Quebec engineering giant
SNC-Lavalin instead of prosecuting the company in a criminal trial for bribing officials in Libya. When
Jody Wilson-Raybould balked at Trudeau's pressure, she was demoted from being the Attorney-General and Justice Minister in
January 2019. Reacting to the
August 14, 2019, report, issued two months before the crucial parliamentary polls to be held on October 21, 2019, Trudeau stuck to his original justification that he could take responsibility "for everything" except apologizing "for standing up for the Canadian jobs".
Trudeau Unveils New Cabinet after a Slim Majority
Performing poorly in
October 21, 2019, parliamentary election, but still winning maximum number of seats for his ruling political party, Justin Trudeau on
November 20, 2019 unveiled his new cabinet. Chrystia Freeland is moving from foreign ministry to become deputy premier, but still will oversee the U.S.-Canada relations.
Quebec lawyer Francois-Philippe Champagne will become the new foreign minister.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Announces Resignation
After failing to defeat a weakened
Justin Trudeau and his ruling political party in the
October 21, 2019, election, the opposition
Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, 40, faced dissension, inter-party rebellion and strong criticism. On
December 12, 2019, Andrew Scheer has called it quits, but will work on acting basis until a successor takes over the leadership of
Conservative Party.
Worst Mass Shooting in Canada Kills at least 18
A gunman wreaked havoc and devastation on a wide swath of rural Nova Scotia in hours-long rampage that had begun on
April 18, 2020 and lasted for several hours until after the alleged gunman,
Gabriel Wortman, 51, was dead. The gunman wore police uniform, and went from small town to town in the rural parts of Nova Scotia, about 60 miles from
Halifax. At least 18 people were killed, many houses were charred and the country was left reeling into a unbelievable tragedy in the midst of
COVID-19 shelter-in-place order.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau grieved the loss of so many innocent lives.
Argument with Girlfriend Might Have Led the Rampage
Royal Canadian Mounted Police on April 24, 2020 gave more details about a possible motive behind the worst mass shooting in Canada's history. The suspected gunman,
Gabriel Wortman, had an argument with his girlfriend, but she had escaped his wrath and hid all night in the woods as Wortman turned the rural town of
Portapique and surrounding towns in
Nova Scotia killing fields. Altogether 22 people were killed in the mayhem that began on
April 18, 2020 and ended around noon on Sunday,
April 19, 2020 when the gunman was shot dead at a gas station.
Trudeau Reeling under Corruption Scandals
It began with
Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigning on August 17, 2020 night under the shadow of a brewing scandal related to the government grant
$690 million student grant program to
WE Charity that had deep-rooted connections with Trudeau family and Morneau. Canada's independent ethics inquiry panel launched an investigation into
WE Charity scandal. This is Trudeau's third investigation, and earlier two had yielded conflict-of-interest decisions, blemishing young Trudeau's credibility. Hours after Bill Morneau's resignation, Prime Minister Trudeau on
August 18, 2020 named
Chrystia Freeland as the country's first female finance minister. Also, Trudeau announced prorogation of parliament through September 23, 2020, saying the old agenda having become obsolete under COVID-19 pandemic and that he had to chart a new agenda that would suit post-COVID era. However, opposition leaders blasted that rationale and said that "prorogation" had been done to blunt parliamentary inquiries into Trudeau's corruptions. The interim leader of the Conservative Party,
Andrew Scheer, on
August 19, 2020 called the action taken by the premier as "disgusting".
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said that "Canadians should not be forces to pay a price for Trudeau's scandals".
Conservatives Choose a Military Veteran
Canada's Conservative Party on August 24, 2020 picked a proven conservative and military veteran, Erin O'Toole, to lead the party against
Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau's Gamble Fails to Get His Party Absolute Majority
Two years shy of completing his second term, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a snap poll to ride out on his government's relative success in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve an absolute majority instead of continuing to run a coalition government dependent on support from other political parties. At the end, that gamble did not pan out as planned as Trudeau's Liberal Party appeared to have failed to get an absolute majority in the September 20, 2021, elections of 338-seat Canadian parliament. As of late night on September 20, 2021, Liberals are leading in 148 seats, followed by Conservative Party (103 seats), Bloc Quebecois (28) and Left-leaning New Democratic Party (22).
Trudeau's New Cabinet Includes Former Greenpeace Activist Arrested in 2001
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on October 26, 2021 unveiled a revamped cabinet after failing to win a clear majority in the September 20, 2021, parliamentary election. Trudeau tapped Steven Guilbeault, a former Greenpeace director, as the new environment minister. Steven Guilbeault was arrested in 2001 for scaling Toronto's CN Tower during a demonstration. The new foreign minister will be Montreal lawmaker Melanie Joly who will replace Marc Garneau. Anita Anand, who is in charge of procuring vaccines, replaces Harjit Sajjan.
Canada Ends Its Half-Staff Flag Flying
After nearly six months, Canadian authorities on November 5, 2021 has announced that the nation flag will again be flying at the full-staff. Canada has lowered its national flag amid revelation that about 6,000 of its more than 150,000 indigenous children who had been forcibly housed and schooled in Christian schools, mostly run by Catholic Church, as part of the national assimilation drive since the 19th century, stretching through 1970s, had died because of abuses. Their remains had been found in recent years. Canada is facing its own moments of reckoning over this sordid, hideous and sad chapter in its history.
A Landmark Deal Reached in the Recent Indigenous Children Abuse Cases
January 4, 2022 marks a sweet milestone in the often bloody, discriminatory and depraved history of how children welfare had been handled, or mis-handled, in the First Nations, or indigenous communities, as Canadian government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reached a $31.5 billion in agreements in principle with the indigenous groups. The First Nations children welfare crisis dated to 2007 when indigenous groups had filed complaint with a human rights panel over federal government's "inequitable and insufficient" funding of child welfare services on the First Nations reserves, leading to unnecessary removals of tens of thousands of children from their families. In 2016, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal sided with the indigenous groups, and blasted Ottawa for misleading funding formula based on "flawed assumptions about children in care". In 2019, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the government to pay $31,000 to each child unnecessarily removed from their homes since 2006 because of federal government's "willful and reckless" discrimination. Advocates estimate that there are 50,000 such children covered by the tribunal's recommendation. Trudeau, who came to power with a focus on correcting and compensating for the harms inflicted on the First Nations children as one of his core campaign issues, dithered and went to court for judicial scrutiny of the tribunal's recommendation. Canada's federal court rejected the government's appeal in September 2021. Although the case has now gone to a higher appellate court, Trudeau regime has hit a pause button to the judicial route and reached a $31.5 billion in agreements in principle with the indigenous groups. Under the $31.5 billion deal in principle, announced on January 4, 2022, half of the money will be allocated among children victimized by the government's discriminatory policies and their families, while the other half will be used to strengthen the First Nations' children welfare system.
********************* CANADIAN TRUCKERS' ANTI-VAX PROTEST ******************
Canadian Truckers' Anti-Vax Protest Attracts People from Different Stripes
The January 28-30, 2022 weekend protest at Ottawa brought rigs, freighters and big-haulers to the national capital to protest against vaccination mandate for truckers driving back and forth between the U.S. and Canada. The vaccination mandate for all incoming truckers to Canada went into effect on January 15, 2022, and a similar rule in the U.S. became effective on January 22, 2022. However, not all the participants in the weekend rally are in cross-border transportation profession. Many are anti-mandate protesters who have taken this opportunity to decry Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regime's vaccination mandate and other pandemic-related restrictions. However, Canadian Trucking Alliance, a powerful umbrella organization for Canada's truckers, issued a statement on January 29, 2022, saying that almost 90% of their members had been vaccinated and many of the protesters "have no connection to the trucking industry and have a separate agenda beyond a disagreement over cross border vaccine requirements".
Protest Turns Obscene
The so called trucking protest over cross-border vaccine requirements that went into effect on January 15, 2022 descended into chaos, obscenity and anti-semitism as many of the protesters urinated on the National War Memorial, danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and displayed an anti-vaccine statement on the statue of Canadian hero Terry Fox. Ottawa police said on January 30, 2022 that several "criminal investigations are underway".
Ontario Premier Slams Truckers' Protest as "Occupation"; Calls for Its End
Ontario's conservative prime minister on February 4, 2022 called the continuing protest by several thousands truckers as "occupation" and called for ending it. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his frustration over nuisance and pure vile shown by many of the protesters near the parliament. Many Ottawa residents are feeling afraid of walking near the demonstration site as they often get taunted and insulted for wearing face masks.
Ottawa Mayor Declares a State of Emergency
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson on February 6, 2022 declared a state of emergency in the capital as thousands of protesters remained near the federal parliament and vowed not to withdraw their protest until the demands were met. The demands include lifting of the vaccine mandate and resignation of Justin Trudeau government. The declaration that comes after Ottawa's police chief, Peter Sloly, calls the protest as a "siege" will enable deployment of thousands of additional police officers and extra help to provide the necessary relief to besieged Ottawa residents. As the truckers' protest continues with no end in sight, there is fury among Canadians over GOP politicians' open interference in their country's internal affairs. Former President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a "far left lunatic" who had embarked upon destroying "Canada with insane Covid mandates". Addressing the naked interference by U.S. politicians, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman, who had served under President Barack Obama, tweeted on February 6, 2022, asking the U.S. politicians desisting from "disruptive activities in Canada". Heyman lamented that today "Canada is unfortunately experiencing radical U.S. politicians involving themselves in Canadian domestic issues". Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed their support, too, for Canadian truckers who had organized under the umbrella of "Freedom Truck Convoy". Crowdfunding site GoFundMe pulled the plug on raising money for the Freedom Truck Convoy as its activities violated the company rules.
Canada Decries GOP's Interference
As many as two members of Canada's federal government on February 7, 2022 called out the shameful interference of the Republican leaders to fuel the protest organized by the Freedom Truck Convoy. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino blasted Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton, dismissing his "concern" for Canadian truckers. Dominic LeBlanc, minister of intergovernmental affairs, added his own voice of frustration.
Auto Industry Suffers because of Closure of a Key Bridge
Canadian truckers on February 7, 2022 expanded their blockade from the Parliament Hill in Ottawa to other parts as they began obstructing traffic at the Ambassador Bridge spanning over the Detroit River. Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit with Windsor accounts for 25% of U.S.-Canada trade and is key to sustaining the supply chain for auto industry on the both sides. On February 9, 2022, the third day of Ambassador Bridge blockade, the resulting pain is more evident on the auto industry. Ford said during the day that an engine plant in Windsor had been shut down and an assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario was running on a scaled-down schedule because of the supply shortages. However, General Motors and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, didn't report any operational problem, although Stellantis had to cut shifts a day earlier at a minivan plant in Windsor. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said that up to 100 trucks had been used to block the Ambassador Bridge. Freedom Truck Convoy, the organization under which the days-long blockades were being organized at Ottawa, Windsor and other places, demands the withdrawal of vaccine requirements for truckers, lifting of other pandemic-related restrictions and removal of Justin Trudeau government. Many of the restrictions and mandates in Canada are authorized by local and state authorities, and they are being lifted now as Omicron caseloads are falling. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have already decided this week to roll back or withdraw many of the restrictions.
U.S. Calls for Federal Intervention to Clear Blockade
Biden administration on February 10, 2022 prodded the Justin Trudeau administration to clear the truck blockade that had stopped transportation on the Ambassador Bridge, responsible for 25% of the U.S.-Canada trade. Given the economic and commercial repercussion, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said that he would seek a court's injunction to remove the blockade as the "economic harm is not sustainable" and "it must come to an end". Ford Motors said during the day that its assembly plant in Windsor that had been shuttered a day before resumed operating during the day.
State Premier Declares State of Emergency
Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford on February 11, 2022 declared a state of emergency, saying that this "is no longer a protest", but "an illegal siege" that impeded the movement of traffic and people and hurt the economy. Prime Minister Doug Ford called an emergency meeting of his cabinet and threatened to slap hefty fines as high as $78,000 and a year-long prison time for violation to the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz of the Ontario Superior Court issued an order on February 11, 2022 morning for the protesters to leave the Ambassador Bridge blockade site by 7PM local time.
Key Bridge Opens after a Week-long Blockade
Around 10PM local time on February 13, 2022, Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit with Windsor has re-opened to two-way traffic. Protesting truckers blockaded the Ambassador Bridge, accounting for 25% trade between Canada and the U.S., since February 7, 2022 on the Canada-to-U.S.-bound lanes, leaving the U.S.-to-Canada-bound lanes open. After a judge's order, most of the protesters left the bridge. About two dozen people were arrested on February 13, 2022, and seven vehicles had been towed in addition to seizure of five other vehicles.
In Ottawa, though, blockade around the Parliament Hill and surrounding areas continued on February 13, 2022. Ottawa's mayor, Jim Watson, said during the day that he had reached an agreement with one of the protest leaders, Tamara Lich, that would pave the way for a more normal way of life for residents in the vicinity of the parliament as the protesters would move away from those neighborhoods. However, the protest leader, Tamara Lich, dismissed mayor's version, reiterating that there was no such agreement.
Trudeau Declares Emergency
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on February 14, 2022 became the first Canadian premier to invoke the Emergencies Act of 1988. Trudeau declared emergency, countering the arguments of the protesters with pointed vow to end the "illegal occupation" that had begun on January 28, 2022 in Ottawa and spread to several border crossings since then. Declaring the state of emergency, Trudeau said that the act would be applied to "geographically targeted" regions and empower the law enforcement agencies with additional tools. Protesters remained adamant.
Ottawa's Police Chief Fired as Number of Border Blockades Fall
A day after declaration of Canada's Emergencies Act of 1988 for the first time, the number of blockades that had inhibited cross-border traffic fell to just one. During the day, truckers moved out of an Alberta border-crossing linking Canadian town of Coutts with Montana, paving the way for free flow of trade and commerce through a crossing that had earned notoriety as police seized arms and ammunition from protesters there. At least 11 people were arrested at the Coutts crossing. As of February 15, 2022, only one border crossing is still experiencing truckers-led blockade: Emerson in Manitoba across the U.S. state of North Dakota.
Meanwhile, in a separate, but significant, second incident during the day, Ottawa Police Services Board fired the city's police chief, Peter Sloly, for inaction to anticipate and tackle the continuous occupation of areas adjacent to parliament by "Freedom Convoy" protesters. Diane Deans, the chair of Ottawa Police Services Board, was adamant that "this carnival of chaos" had gone out of hands and needed change in law enforcement leadership. Steve Bell became the interim chief of Ottawa Police.
Police Presence Ramped up around Parliament
As of February 17, 2022, all the border road crossings are open to traffic, but the Freedom Convoy continues to block areas in the vicinity of the nation's parliament. Ottawa's interim police chief, Steve Bell, on February 17, 2022 warned that the action was imminent to remove the truckers. Law enforcement personnel are facing critical challenges to face off the protesters as there are kids with the protesters and their safety is of paramount concern for the authorities. Freedom Convoy leaders are equally stubborn, and have refused to leave. Canadian Deputy Premier Chrystia Freeland said during the day that action is afoot to freeze the protesters' bank accounts.
Hundreds Arrested as Blockade Being Cleared up Gradually
Police in Ottawa got in action on February 18, 2022 as hundreds of protesters were arrested and taken away in handcuffs. Many truckers also left on their own and protest camps were being dismantled by security personnel. Dozens of vehicles were also towed by workers with their company names and logos covered and themselves wearing neon-green ski masks. The crackdown on the so called Freedom Convoy began in the earnest on February 18, 2022 on the roads near the Parliament Hill.
Areas in the Vicinity of Parliament almost Ridden of Protesters
Areas in and around Parliament Hill in Ottawa looked more or less cleared on February 19, 2022 night as many of the truckers had left on their own. A total of about 170 protesters were arrested during two days (February 18-19, 2022) of [removal] operation. Multiple investigations began over seizure of weapons at the protest site.
Ottawa Protest Site Cleared
After a three-day (February 18-20, 2022) sweep, law enforcement personnel have cleared up the surrounding areas of Parliament Hill, seat of powers of the federal government and epicenter of the anti-vaccine protests for the past three weeks, without any violent incident that many had feared. As of February 20, 2022 night, the protest site wore a forlorn look, with trucks and protesters gone, and litters, dismantled tent camps and food canisters scattered on the roads and sidewalks. At least 190 protesters were arrested, nearly 60 vehicles towed in the operation and many of the movement leaders' personal and corporate bank accounts--76 bank accounts totaling $2.5 million--frozen as per the Emergencies Act of 1988.
Parliament Extends Emergency
In a political victory to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, House of Commons on February 21, 2022 extended the emergency powers by 185 to 151 votes to continue to have tools at the authorities' disposal to deal with any potential anti-vaccine blockades in the coming days.
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Conservative Party Leader Ousted
Canada's Conservative Party lawmakers on February 2, 2022 voted out their leader Erin O'Toole as he had failed to deliver a victory in the country's September 20, 2021, parliamentary election.
Strike by Canadian Pacific Workers May Spawn Fertilizer Crisis in the U.S.
Teamsters workers in the Canadian Pacific resorted to strike on March 20, 2022 as Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and CP could not agree on a deal by midnight March 20, 2022, deadline. Canadian Pacific is a lead carrier of fertilizer and potash to U.S. breadbasket of Midwest and parts of the Northeast. A prolonged strike will hamper already squeezed and strained agricultural supply chain, leading to food scarcity and inflation.
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Pope Arrives at Alberta in Historic Trip
Pope Francis on July 24, 2022 arrived at Edmonton, Alberta in what pundits and priests had dubbed as penitential pilgrimage as part of papal effort to reconcile Catholic Church's past and seek apology for Church's previous excesses against indigent students for forcible integration into Canadian society. At the airport at Edmonton, Pope Francis was received by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mary May Simon, an Inuk and Canada's first indigent governor general. Pope Francis' trip that will take His Holiness to Quebec City and Iqaluit, Nunavut in the country's far north in addition to Edmonton has added significance as Pope himself has described his Canada trip this time in conversation with journalists en route as "penitential voyage".
Pope on April 1, 2022 apologized for Catholic Church's "deplorable" abuses against the indigent students in church-run residential schools, days after the Holy Sea had met representatives from Canada's First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Vatican. Canadian government also admitted the gross abuse of Indian children in state-funded Christian schools. Some 150,000 children have been separated from their families between 19th century and 1970s.
Pope Apologizes for the Church's Role in Residential School Abuses
The morning after Pope Francis arrived at Edmonton, Alberta for what's dubbed as a "penitential pilgrimage", the pontiff on July 25, 2022 visited a former residential school and a cemetery, Ermineskin cemetery, at Maskwacis, near Edmonton. Four chiefs of a quartet of Cree Nations escorted Pope Francis' wheelchair to a jubilation event of Powwow. He met survivors and families of victims of Canada's notorious residential school program where nearly 150,000 indigent children were schooled under harsh conditions to separate them from their traditional culture and integrate with the Christian society. He apologized, saying that "I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against Indigenous peoples".
Protest Staged at Papal Mass to Demand Withdrawal of "Doctrine of Discovery"
Two women unfurled a banner at the altar of the National Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre right before Pope Francis II led the Mass on July 28, 2022. The banner exhorted to rescind the Papal decree of "Doctrine of Discovery" that had legitimized the seizure of Indian land and handing it over to European settlers. The U.S. Supreme Court leveraged the "Doctrine of Discovery" to issue a verdict in 1823 to allow settlers to own the land occupied by the indigent people on the basis of the doctrine's underpinning argument that it was the European settlers who had "discovered" the land. In addition to withdrawing the "Doctrine of Discovery", indigent groups and other activist groups are demanding that the Vatican withdraw the15th century papal decrees, or bulls, that had provided the so called moral support to European Kingdoms to expand their rules and tentacles in order to spread Christianity.
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Scores Dead in Stabbing Spree in Saskatchewan
At least 10 people were killed and 15 people were injured in a mayhem involving a series of stabbings that stretched over hours at multiple locations on September 4, 2022 at an indigenous community and a nearby town in Saskatchewan province. The stabbings took place in multiple locations at James Smith Cree Nation and the village of Weldon. Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore of RCMP Saskatchewan displayed the photos of two suspect brothers, Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, at a news conference in Regina, adding that "it is horrific what has occurred in our province today".
One Suspect Found Dead
One of the suspects, Damien Sanderson, was found dead near the stabbing sites and his injuries were not from self-inflicted wounds, according to the police chief of Regina on September 5, 2022.
Stabbing Suspect Dies of Self-Inflicted Wounds
Myles Sanderson was reported to have been killed in self-inflicted wounds on September 7, 2022 after his vehicle had been pursued by law enforcement and run off the road in Saskatchewan.
India-Canada Relations at a Nadir
India on September 21, 2023 took the once-unthinkable step of suspending issuing visas to Canadian citizens after Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau on September 18, 2023 alleged that India had hands behind the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey in June 2023.
Canada's Parliament Speaker Resigns over a Pro-Nazi Guest
That a public official should vet out who they are inviting for any high-visible political occasion can't be any clearer as the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons is facing the fallout stemming from inviting 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka to a joint session of parliament addressed by visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 22, 2023. After Zelensky's speech, Speaker Anthony Rota recognized Hunka, to a boisterous applause from those present during the address of the joint session of the parliament, for serving in the First Ukrainian Division during the World War II knowing little what awaited him. First Ukrainian Division was also known as Waffen-SS Galicia Division, a Nazi army unit. However, damage is already done, and Rota resigned from the speakership on September 26, 2023.
India Asks 41 Canadian Diplomats to be Removed
India told Canada to remove 41 of 62 diplomats from the country, according to an October 3, 2023, report by The Associated Press. The action by New Delhi is another notch of ramp-up of the escalation erupted in the aftermath of Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau's allegation that India might be behind the assassination of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver in June 2023.
Canada Removes 41 Diplomats from India
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly reported on October 19, 2023 that Ottawa had removed 41 Canadian diplomats declared persona non grata by New Delhi.
India Resumes Electronic Visa Services for Canadian Citizens
The Dallas Morning News reported on November 23, 2023 that India had restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, paving the way of gradual improvement in bilateral relationship. Last month, New Delhi eased the visa ban and resumed processing entry, business, conference and medical visas. The Ottawa-New Delhi relationship went into a tailspin after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 accused New Delhi of links to murder of a separatist Khalistan leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in June 2023.
The Dallas Morning News also reported on November 23, 2023 that the U.S. authorities thwarted an assassination attempt against a second Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on the U.S. soil. According to News' account, the U.S. authorities raised the assassination attempt at the highest level of Indian government.
