Demonstration in Ottawa | “The convoy must leave”, says Jagmeet Singh

(Ottawa) The leader of the New Democratic Party has denounced the demonstration which has paralyzed downtown Ottawa since Friday and associated its organizers with the extreme right.

Mylene Crete
The Press

“It’s completely unacceptable, what we have seen,” said Jagmeet Singh at a press briefing on Monday before launching into a long list of the actions of which certain demonstrators are accused. Desecration of memorials, harassment of workers, citizens who are afraid to leave their homes, children who cannot go to school… “The convoy must leave now and I know that the police will do their job”, he added.

Several downtown businesses remain closed the same day that Ontario relaxed certain measures to fight the pandemic. Restaurants, gyms and cinemas can now reopen.

“The organizers are obviously far-right people who want to divide the population and have exploited people’s frustration,” he said.

The New Democrat leader said he understood people’s frustration with the pandemic, but chose to side with health care workers, grocery store employees and other businesses that provide essential services. The demonstrators represent a small proportion of the population, according to him, since the majority of people are vaccinated and follow health instructions.