Some Liberal MPs want a Commons committee investigation into the truckers’ Freedom Convoy protest now paralyzing the city, says Blacklock’s Reporter..One MP served notice of “an urgent study” of demonstrators described as “shocking” and “disgusting.”.“I would like to give notice of this motion,” Liberal MP Rechie Valdez (Mississauga-Streetsville, Ont.) told the Commons veterans affairs committee..The motion stated: “That given the shameful and disrespectful behaviour shown by protesters at the National War Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, the Committee on Veterans Affairs undertake an urgent study to review these actions and that witnesses include the Ottawa Police Service, Royal Canadian Legion, Assembly of First Nations Veterans Council and government officials.”.Protesters would not be invited to hearings and no date for a vote was immediately scheduled..The motion followed a January 29 Twitter video depicting a young woman in a snowsuit standing atop the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier yelling, “Freedom.”.The woman was among an estimated 15,000 at Parliament Hill protests against vaccine mandates..Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay called the video “completely disgusting” and an insult to war dead..“To see that from the protesters was shocking, disgusting and a slap in the face to every Canadian veteran,” said MacAulay..“I hope we never, ever see anything like that again in this country.”.The blockade covering 10 square blocks of downtown Ottawa is entering its second week and cabinet members on Wednesday appealed to truckers to leave the city..“They made their point,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra told a reporter. “I think it is time to go home peacefully.”.“Should the Ottawa police step in?” asked a reporter..“I have full confidence in our law enforcement agencies, that they will do their job,” replied Alghabra..“I mean, they made their point. The entire country heard their point of view. I think they should go home.”.The Ottawa Police Service said it charged three protesters, two from Ottawa and a Quebec City man. None were truck drivers. The trio was charged with mischief, uttering threats and “carrying a weapon to a public meeting.”.The truckers are protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
