Canada warns against ‘foreign interference’ after Republicans announce support for vaccine mandate protests
Senior Canadian officials have urged U.S. officials to stay out of the country’s domestic affairs after some Republicans voiced their support for the “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa, according to reports.
Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino responded to the comments over the convoy, according to Time Magazine, saying, “We need to be vigilant about potential foreign interference … Whatever statements may have been made by some foreign official are neither here nor there.”
“We’re Canadian. We have our own set of laws. We will follow them,” he added.
The convoy is protesting COVID-19 restrictions in the nation and has had a large presence in Ottawa for over a week.
Mendicino was responding to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) who have both voiced their support for the demonstrations after crowdfunding site GoFundMe said it would refund the millions of dollars raised by demonstrators, The Associated Press reported.
Paxton tweeted, “Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers’ worthy cause. This BLM-backing company went woke, froze the funds, and failed to deliver Texans’ money. Today I assembled a team to investigate their potential fraud and deception. Texas donors will get Justice!”
In response, Mendicino slammed Paxton and said it is “certainly not the concern of the Texas attorney general as to how we in Canada go about our daily lives in accordance with the rule of law,” the newswire added.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) also shared his support for the protesters in an appearance on Fox News and said the “government doesn’t have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates,” the AP added.
Canada’s minister of intergovernmental affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, blamed the GOP interference for inciting disorderly conduct and helping to fund groups that are in violation of Canadian law, the newswire reported.
Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Sunday in response to thousands turning out for the second weekend of demonstrations against COVID-19 public health measures, blocking roads and disrupting parts of Canada’s capital city.
The ongoing protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Canada also blocked traffic at Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada, on Monday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an emergency debate in Parliament that “it has to stop.”
“Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens’ daily lives,” he was quoted as saying by the AP.
The protests began after truckers gathered to protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and protocols.