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WORLD NEWS Saturday 12 February 2022
Ontario declares an emergency over truck blockades in Canada

By ROB GILLIES face of pandemic-induced
Associated Press shortages of computer
TORONTO (AP) — Ontario’s chips and other supply-
premier declared a state of chain disruptions.
emergency Friday in reac- “American legislators are
tion to the truck blockades freaking out, and rightfully
in Ottawa and at the U.S. so,” said Nelson Wiseman,
border and threatened a political science profes-
heavy penalties against sor at the University of To-
those who interfere with ronto. “Pressure is now be-
the free flow of goods and ing exerted by the White
people. House on Trudeau to act
Since Monday, scores of more decisively.”
drivers protesting Canada’s The Freedom Convoy
COVID-19 restrictions and has been promoted and
venting their rage against cheered on by many Fox
liberal Prime Minister Jus- News personalities and at-
tin Trudeau have bottled tracted support on the
up the Ambassador Bridge right from the likes of former
connecting Windsor, On- President Donald Trump
tario, to Detroit, disrupting and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
the auto industry on both “This is an unprecedented
sides of the border. Hun- demonstration. It has signifi-
dreds more truckers have cant levels of fundraising,
paralyzed downtown Ot- Truckers and supporters block the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and coordination and com-
tawa over the past two Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates munication. They have
weeks. and restrictions, in Windsor, Ontario, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Associated Press command centers estab-
Premier Doug Ford said he lished here and across the
will convene the provincial ty “to consider taking away cal authorities have hesitat- along with the economic country and beyond this
cabinet on Saturday to ur- the personal and commer- ed to forcibly remove the toll. The Biden administra- country,” embattled Otta-
gently enact measures that cial licenses of anyone who self-proclaimed Freedom tion has urged Trudeau’s wa Police Chief Peter Sloly
make it “crystal clear” it is doesn’t comply,” accord- Convoy protesters there government to end the said. On Friday, amid signs
illegal to block critical infra- ing to the premier’s office. and elsewhere around the blockade, and Michigan’s that authorities might be
structure. Violators will face Separately, the mayor of country, reflecting appar- governor likewise called prepared to get tough, po-
up to a year in prison and a Windsor asked for an in- ently a lack of manpower for a quick resolution to the lice in Windsor and Ottawa
maximum fine of $100,000, junction Friday afternoon to by local police, Canada’s standoff. awaited reinforcements
he said. try to break up the bridge reverence for free speech, The Ambassador Bridge is from the Royal Canadian
“Let me be as clear as I blockade, as parts short- and fear of violence. Wind- the busiest U.S.-Canadian Mounted Police, the fed-
can: There will be conse- ages caused by the pro- sor Mayor Drew Dilkens border crossing, carry- eral police force.
quences for these actions, test forced General Motors, warned earlier this week ing 25% of all trade be- Ottawa’s mayor has asked
and they will be severe,” Ford, Toyota and Honda to that some of the truckers tween the two countries. for 1,800 additional police
Ford said. “This is a pivotal, close auto plants or cancel are “willing to die.” The standoff comes at a officers, which could near-
pivotal moment for our na- shifts. A judge began hear- But the political pressure time when the auto indus- ly double the manpower
tion.” The measures will also ing evidence. to reopen the bridge ap- try is already struggling to available to the capital
provide additional authori- Federal, provincial and lo- peared to be mounting maintain production in the city’s police force. q

Burkina Faso’s junta leader is declared president by council

By SAM MEDNICK dled nation, which is see- State group. local administrators and announce its proposal on
Associated Press ing a dramatic increase in Since seizing power Da- vowed to restore Burkina how the country should re-
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina attacks by jihadists linked miba has swiftly appointed Faso to constitutional rule turn to democracy in a few
Faso (AP) — The leader of to al-Qaida and the Islamic new military chiefs, sacked when the “conditions are weeks.
Burkina Faso’s junta Lt. Col. right,” he said in a televised While the junta has so far re-
Paul Henri Sandaogo Da- address to the nation days ceived widespread support
miba has been declared after the coup. from people across Burkina
president this week, the Damiba has also met with Faso, the international com-
West African country’s politicians, including the munity has condemned
Constitutional Council said former administration, civic the coup. Burkina Faso has
in a statement. organizations and repre- been suspended from the
Damiba is to be officially sentatives of the interna- West African regional body
inaugurated on Feb. 16, tional community to ex- known as ECOWAS as well
military officials confirmed plain his views and garner as the African Union, which
Friday, although his term support. stopped short of imposing
as president is effective Earlier this month, Damiba sanctions. Both those or-
retroactively from Jan. 24, created a 15-person tech- ganizations are calling for
when soldiers overthrew nical committee charged a fast transition to constitu-
the democratically elect- with proposing a timeline tional rule and for Kabore
ed former President Roch A man holds a portrait of Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba for a transitional govern- to be released. The for-
Marc Christian Kabore.Da- who has taken the reins of Burkina Faso, in Ouagadougou, Jan. ment that will lead the mer president is still under
miba has vowed to restore 25, 2022. country to elections. The house arrest in the capital,
security to the conflict-rid- Associated Press committee is expected to Ouagadougou.q