LETTER

LETTRE

 The growing threat to our democracy

 

The Globe & Mail has reported that the Prime Minister's security advisor believes that the trucker's convoy, or part of them, were intent on "overthrowing the government", not merely protesting the inconveniences of the lockdown.  The Globe quoted: “The occupation of Ottawa was dug in. They had supply chains. They had organization. They had funding coming in from across Canada but also other countries. The people who organized that protest – and there were several factions – came to overthrow the government.”  That seemed a genuine interpretation of the events, even at the time. There were areas -- not near the "action", where the media was unwelcome and harassed.  From a distance the media could tell us that these were not truckers and they had an entirely different feel about their encampment. In Alberta some were armed. We don't know about Ottawa.
    This should be a wake-up call that even in Canada there are organizations that are authoritarian and anti-democratic. They actually planned to force the government to withdraw and resign and leave running the country to them. No doubt with the help of larger such groups from the US.  The role of our police within all this is up for question, since we now know that American fascists have infiltrated police forces, even the military.  And didn't Canada have an issue with members of the "Proud Boys" propagandizing within our own military? Several US elected Representives have said Canada should be invaded to stop the "creeping socialism" here -- one of the convoy's slogans, too.
    Each time that fascist-minded thugs get away with such events -- like the January 6 insurrection in Washington -- there are others encouraged to try the same.  Not long ago, our law-enforcement did not pussy-foot but engaged these people and took them to jail -- or worst. Remember Waco, Texas?  Gun fights with militias in the US west?  Police firebombed a fortified house in Philadelphia and brought these thugs to justice, final or otherwise. We can use their catch-call, too: Wake up, people!  Trump is not a comedian, but the tip of an iceberg.
Anne Capistol
Aylmer