Thursday, November 14, 2024
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Get the Daily
Briefing by Email

Subscribe

What’s Happening in Ottawa Is Not Freedom, It’s Anarchy

Peter MacKay and Vern White

National Post, Feb. 14, 2022

“But what we have seen in the occupation of Ottawa and blockages at border crossings is not the right of protest enshrined in our constitution, but illegal activity that represents a national security and economic threat to Canada.”

We are a free society that protects and embraces the right to assembly and of peaceful protest. But, after what we have seen in Ottawa and elsewhere over the past 18 days, and to some degree in the past few years at pipelines and rail lines, we are no longer a country that applies the rule of law without fear or prejudice.

The right of protest is integral to — and strengthens — our democracy. Citizens have the right to make their voices heard loud and clear every day and not just at the ballot box.

Canadians are frustrated and tired with all they have endured. Those who don’t like being compelled to get vaccinated to get on an airplane, visit a restaurant, or enter a land border by car or truck can grab a sign and fill our public squares. Indeed, there is ample valid opinion that many Canadian governments have over reached and politicized COVID for partisan benefit. The debate over the decisions made by governments over COVID measures and their impacts on our overall health began prior to and will continue long after the trucks occupying Parliament Hill and our vital infrastructure are gone.

Peter MacKay is a former Minister of Justice, External Affairs and National Defence. Senator Vern White is the former Chief of Police for the City of Ottawa.

To view the original article, click here

Donate CIJR

Become a CIJR Supporting Member!

Most Recent Articles

The Empty Symbolism of Criminal Charges Against Hamas

0
Jeff Jacoby The Boston Globe, Sept. 8, 2024 “… no Palestinian terrorist has ever been brought to justice in the United States for atrocities committed against Americans abroad.”   Hersh Goldberg-Polin...

Britain Moves Left, But How Far?

0
Editorial WSJ, July 5, 2024   “Their failures created an opening for Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, a party promising stricter immigration controls and the lower-tax policies...

HELP CIJR GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS

0
"For the second time this year, it is my greatest merit to lead you into battle and to fight together.  On this day 80...

Day 5 of the War: Israel Internalizes the Horrors, and Knows Its Survival Is...

0
David Horovitz Times of Israel, Oct. 11, 2023 “The more credible assessments are that the regime in Iran, avowedly bent on Israel’s elimination, did not work...

Subscribe Now!

Subscribe now to receive the
free Daily Briefing by email

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Subscribe to the Daily Briefing

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.