There will be many recaps of the events in the City of Ottawa during February 2022. Most visitors to the city at that time of year, prefer indoor recreations. Skating on the Rideau Canal at -20˚ C is for the foolhardy. Camping out on the streets around our parliament by a large number of anarchists seemed more like idiocy. It became an excellent example of the way Canadians like to handle their problems.
The events that unfolded told the world not only of Canada’s belief in the rule of law but of the benefits. While toes might have been stepped on, both indoors and out, nobody suffered serious injuries. Though frostbite was of concern.
The worst bite seemed to be indoors as parliamentarians argued the merits of an emergency measures act. The debate reflected the back and forth of the police and protestors outside. There was a lot of standing around and waiting both indoors and out. And there were winners and losers in both places.
The most serious losers were Canada’s conservative party. MPs such as Pierre Poilievre brought the party dishonour for supporting anarchists. Fighting against the emergency measures was a lost cause. The conservatives were identified in the debate with the troublemakers of the Bloc Québecois. And there is nothing the Bloc like better than a chance to stick a finger in the eyes of les anglais.
The only problem for the liberals was the reminder that their MP Bill Blair was the police chief in Toronto in 2010 who had his troops stand down while Montreal-based anarchists rampaged in downtown Toronto. Yet the next day, his troops kettled the innocent in reprisal.
But this time was different. The police always left the anarchists an escape route. And they had lots of warnings and polite requests. Only once were the police on horseback brought into play.
To many, who watched the events unfold, it was a long and sometimes boring scene. Let’s keep that as the Canadian way.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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