The number of cases and hospitalized patients of COVID-19 have been skyrocketing in recent months. Due to this, several new rules were implemented in Ontario on January 3, 2022. A newer and revised version of the lockdown was implemented but people were not satisfied. Protests are being witnessed all over Ontario, protests against lockdowns and COVID-19 restrictions. Ontario declared a state of emergency on February 11, 2022, in response to such protests against public health measures which have been causing major disruptions in the province, especially to local businesses and restaurants. More protests spiking up every day are forcing police to close off roads.
Doug Ford has also thoroughly expressed his depreciation for the cause by making numerous statements such as how he will “make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure.” Severe fines with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and a year of imprisonment can be enforced onto non-compliers. Trudeau has also expressed the irony of the protestors contesting. He talks about the importance of expressing your freedom of speech but how it has to be done safely considering the pandemic. He mentioned how ironic it is that by gathering at such places, people are putting themselves and their friends and family at risk and spreading further cases of COVID-19, hence extending the period of harsh public health measures and restrictions.
The provincial government declared that the state of emergency was terminated on Wednesday, February 23. While the emergency has been lifted, the government made it evident that current mandates, emergency tools and procedures including the new maximum punishments will remain until seen fit. Punishment has been enforced on many Ontarians. The ministry has already issued 24 suspensions of Ontario passenger-plated vehicles and seized 34 plates of out-of-province passenger-plated vehicles. Ontario is currently in a very rambled state due to the pandemic and the new issues upcoming every day. The best thing to do right now is to follow public health measures and see this pandemic to the end.
SOURCES
“Ontario Declares State of Emergency in Response to Convoy Protests | CBC News.”
CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 12 Feb. 2022, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-announcement-ontario-protests-1.6347810.
Aguilar, Bryann. “Ontario's State of Emergency Lifted after Convoy Protests End.” CP24, CP24,
24 Feb. 2022, www.cp24.com/news/ontario-s-state-of-emergency-lifted-after-convoy-protests-end-1.5793128.
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