Ottawa trucker convoy ‘not above the law,’ says public safety minister

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says it's important for the public to see Ottawa police 'step up enforcement' with the trucker convoy.

People participating in the trucker convoy that dug into downtown Ottawa over the past week — in what some municipal leaders are calling a “siege” — are not above the law, says the country’s public safety minister.

In an interview with The West Block‘s Mercedes Stephenson, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino did not say whether he believes the activities have crossed the line into an occupation.

“This is a convoy about vaccines. Ninety percent of Canadians have gotten vaccinated, including truckers. The convoy can disagree, but they’re not above the law and there should be a peaceful resolution to this as soon as possible,” he said.

Stephenson asked: “Do you think that this is an occupation or do you think it’s still a protest in Ottawa?”

“I think that there are elements that are concerning,” Mendicino said. “Where you see people who are bringing in propane jerry cans, when you hear about people who have been threatened, harassed and assaulted, and where there isn’t law enforcement, then they don’t feel safe.”

“That’s why it’s really important that we see Ottawa Police Service step up the enforcement.”

Ottawa city councillors on the police services board held a special meeting on Saturday evening, when they hammered Chief Peter Sloly over his handling of the situation during the past nine days.

Truckers have been allowed to thrust themselves into the downtown core, setting up infrastructure in Confederation Park, as well as along Wellington Street across from Parliament Hill. Local residents have shared countless accounts on social media about what they describe as assault, harassment, intimidation and death or rape threats from individuals associated with the convoy.