The illegal blockades whether in Ottawa, Windsor, Coutts, Emerson are endangering jobs. They’re a threat to our economy and public safety and they’re hurting small businesses and our neighbors. At the border, they’re impacting trade, our supply chains and manufacturing. The people these blockades are hurting the most are every day families, auto assembly workers, farmers, truckers, and blue-collar Canadians. This morning, I spoke with David Cassidy of UNIFOR, who told me how badly this is hurting workers in southern Ontario. We both agree that these blockades are unacceptable, and they have to end for the good of all Canadians.

Wednesday, I spoke with Premier Ford, and yesterday, with Mayor Dilkens of Windsor to offer the full support of the federal government in their efforts to end these illegal blockades. Minister Alghabra, as well as Ministers Blair, Mendicino and LeBlanc also in regular contact with their counterparts. Ontario’s announcement this morning is responsible and necessary and we are working alongside all partners to get the situation under control.

This morning, I had a direct call with President Biden to talk about our shared challenges at the border. I updated him on the situation, particularly in Windsor, and we discussed both the American and global influence on the protests. We talked about US-based calls flooding the 911 phone lines in Ottawa, the presence of US citizens in the blockades, and the use of foreign money to fund illegal activity. President Biden and I both agree that for the security of people and the economy, these blockades cannot continue.

Make no mistake: the border cannot, and will not remain closed. I also want to remind everyone that politicians don’t direct police in a democratic society, but I can assure you that the RCMP is working with provincial and local police departments to enforce the law.  

Everything is on the table because this unlawful activity has to end. Of course, I can’t say much more now as to exactly when or how this ends because unfortunately we are concerned about violence, so we are taking every precaution to keep people safe.

But the absolute safest way for this to end is for everyone to return to your communities, now. If you’re still participating in illegal blockades, you’re hurting your neighbors, so it’s time to go home – especially if you have kids with you.

Canada’s banks are governed by laws, regulations and practices that ensure funds cannot be used for criminal or illegal activity, and these blockades are illegal. Canadian banks are monitoring financial activity very closely and taking action as necessary.

I want to make something very clear: the illegal blockades seeking to take our neighbourhoods & economy hostage, and the collective COVID fatigue are two separate things. If you joined the protests because you’re tired of COVID, you now need to understand you are breaking the law. Consequences are becoming more and more severe. You don’t want to end up with a criminal record, which will impact your job, livelihoods, and ability to travel – including in the US. We have heard your frustrations with COVID and with the measures to keep people safe. But now it’s time to go home.

To the people who are tired of the pandemic, want to get back to the things they love: I hear you. Parliamentarians hear it in their communities, we hear it from friends and family. To people like Laurie from here in Ontario who wrote me to say she disagrees with the bad behaviour of the blockaders but says she’s also tired of restrictions or Helen from Toronto who’s worried about what restrictions are doing to children’s mental health: I understand.

We don’t want these measures to last longer than they should, and we never did. But the truth is because of our efforts, we saved more lives in Canada than in many other countries. We helped people like Samuel from Courtenay BC, who also wrote to tell me that, as a healthcare worker, our measures are keeping him safe.

Every day, we consider and reconsider what’s possible and what’s best to protect Canadians and I have multiple meetings every week to talk about what the next steps are. This morning, for example, I spoke with Dr. Tam and Minister Duclos among others about a plan to adjust travel measures under federal jurisdiction.

As Canadians, it’s important to continue being there for one another.

We’re fighting a virus, we’re not fighting each other.

People are making sacrifices, and have been for the past 2 years.

It’s never the time to hurt our economy and fellow Canadians with illegal blockades but especially not now, after all we’ve sacrificed together, after all we’ve done to get back to the things we love and reopen our lives.