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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 9 February 2022
COVID-19 protests threaten border trade between Canada, U.S.

By R. GILLIES/T. LINDEMAN eral, the representative of
Associated Press Britain's Queen Elizabeth II
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — as head of state.
Canadian lawmakers ex- All three opposition parties
pressed increasing worry technically could join to-
Tuesday about the eco- gether and defeat the gov-
nomic effects of disrup- ernment because Trudeau
tive demonstrations after does not have the major-
the busiest border cross- ity of seats in Parliament,
ing between the U.S. and but that is highly unlikely
Canada became partially because the vast majority
blocked by truckers pro- of lawmakers have con-
testing vaccine mandates demned the protests.
and other COVID-19 restric- Protesters have also closed
tions. another important U.S.
The blockade at the Am- Canada border crossing in
bassador Bridge between Coutts, Alberta.
Detroit and Windsor, On- "The border at Coutts con-
tario, prevented traffic tinues to open and close at
from entering Canada the discretion of a group of
while some U.S.-bound traf- protesters who believe they
fic was still moving, Pub- Trucks are backed up heading to and from Canada on the Ambassador Bridge, due to protests are above the law. It has to
lic Safety Minister Marco on the Windsor side, in Detroit on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. stop," tweeted Rachel Not-
Mendicino said, calling the Associated Press ley, Alberta's former pre-
bridge "one of the most im- mier and current opposi-
portant border crossings in Speaking in an emergency the federal government. but this feels different," he tion New Democrat leader.
the world." It carries 25% of debate late Monday in Dave Weatherall, a fed- said. Protesters have said they
all trade between Canada Parliament, Prime Minister eral civil servant, lives near Demonstrations have will not leave until all vac-
and the United States. Justin Trudeau said the pro- the truckers' prime staging spread to locations on or cine mandates and CO-
Canadian Transport Min- testers are "trying to block- area in a city-owned park- near the Canadian border, VID-19 restrictions are lifted.
ister Omar Alghabra said ade our economy, our ing lot outside of the down- including the Ambassador They also called for the re-
such blockades will have democracy," and it has to town core. "They're using Bridge, where a protest moval of Trudeau's govern-
serious implications on stop. the lot to terrorize people caused long backups and ment, though it is responsi-
the economy and supply The daily demonstrations in Centretown," he said, at one point stopped traf- ble for few of the restrictive
chains. "I've already heard staged by the so-called asking why the city has al- fic in both directions. The measures, most of which
from automakers and food Freedom Truck Convoy lowed the convoy to re- bridge remains blocked on were put in place by pro-
grocers. This is really a seri- began in Ottawa, where main parked on its property the road to Canada. vincial governments.
ous cause for concern," he demonstrators have used for free and without inter- At a news conference af- François Laporte, the presi-
said in Ottawa, the capital. hundreds of parked trucks vention. ter Trudeau spoke, trucker dent of Teamsters Cana-

Added Mendicino: "Most to paralyze parts of the "It's the first time since hav- spokesman Tom Marrazo da, which represents over
Canadians understand capital for more than 10 ing kids that I've seriously reiterated that the protest- 55,000 drivers, including
there is a difference be- days. The protests have in- wondered about the world ers want to overthrow the 15,000 long-haul truck driv-
tween being tired and fa- furiated people who live we brought them into. I al- government. Marrazo said ers, said the protests do
tigued with the pandemic around downtown, includ- ways figured they could he is willing to meet with not represent the industry
and crossing into some oth- ing neighborhoods near handle most things the the opposition parties and in which 90% of drivers are
er universe." Parliament Hill, the seat of world will throw at them, the nation's governor gen- vaccinated.q

Dutch government names

commissioner to tackle #MeToo issues

By MIKE CORDER ers. On Sunday, a senior which people hold each
Associated Press executive at the country's other accountable for
THE HAGUE, Netherlands biggest soccer club quit wrong behavior. Because
(AP) — The Dutch govern- and apologized for what every victim of sexually
ment appointed a com- the club called a "series of transgressive behavior and
missioner Tuesday to tackle inappropriate messages" sexual violence is one too
sexual abuse and intimida- sent to several female col- many," he added.
tion, after recent high-pro- leagues. The government appoint-
file #MeToo cases shocked "Recent incidents in the ed a respected former
the European Union nation. sports and television world lawmaker and labor union
In recent weeks, the popu- show us that the reason for leader, Mariëtte Hamer, to Hundreds of people protested in Amsterdam, Netherlands,
lar television talent show the #MeToo movement in a three-year term as the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in a #MeToo demonstration sparked by
"The Voice of Holland" has our country is still alive. This new commissioner, say- allegations of sexual improprieties linked to a popular Dutch TV
talent show.
been taken off the air amid must change," said Educa- ing her role is to help mold Associated Press
complaints of unwanted tion, Culture and Science a national action plan to
behavior ranging from Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf. tackle sexually inappropri- as Labor Party lawmaker investigation into several
sexually-tinged WhatsApp "We are working on a cul- ate behavior and sexual Gijs van Dijk quit Parliament reports about his "undesir-
messages to an allegation ture change in which no violence. after his party said it was able behavior in the pri-
of rape involving present- one looks away and in The announcement came launching an independent vate sphere."q