Juno News - February 14, 2022Is the government escalating tensions by invoking the Emergencies Act
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Summary
Learn English with Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the House of Commons on the situation at the border between Canada and the United States, and calls on the Opposition to join him in calling for the border to reopen.
Transcript
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Mr. Speaker, it has been reported that the Prime Minister is planning to invoke the Emergencies
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Act to deal with the current protests in Ottawa and in some parts of the country.
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We know that last night there have been arrests and coups.
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Section 16 of the Emergency Act refers to threats to the security of Canada.
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Given this context, does the Prime Minister think that these protests constitute a threat
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to the security of Canada, and if not, does he think that with this news he could be escalating
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rather than de-escalating an already in-clamed situation?
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Mr. Speaker, these illegal blockades are hurting Canadians.
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We've seen borders closed, our economy crippled.
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We've seen Canadians lose their jobs, Mr. Speaker, and that's why, since the beginning,
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this federal government has provided law enforcement with all of the resources that they've needed.
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In Windsor, the RCMP and Windsor Police have reopened the Ambassador Bridge.
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In Alberta, the RCMP made 11 arrests and seized guns at the Coutts border crossing.
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And in Ottawa, the RCMP and OPP have established an integrated command centre with the Ottawa Police
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Mr. Speaker, our number one priority is to end the illegal blockades, uphold the law, and
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Mr. Speaker, we've been asking the Prime Minister to stop dividing, stigmatizing, and name-calling
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Let them know that he listens and that he hears them.
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A reasonable motion that asks the government to present a plan for a reopening by the end of
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This should be a time of optimism and joy for Canadians.
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Can Canadians count on the Prime Minister to do the right thing?
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And today, stand up with us, support our motion, and give Canadians the hope that they deserve
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Mr. Speaker, it does not really matter whether certain members of the Opposition have been
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But what this country is facing is a largely foreign-funded, targeted and coordinated attack
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on critical infrastructure and our democratic institutions.
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The illegal border crossings are clearly intended to harm Canada and hurt Canadians.
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And our government, Mr. Speaker, is prepared to do whatever is necessary to restore order
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Well, it's clear the Prime Minister and these Liberals are still big fans of polarization,
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Two years into this pandemic, Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve, in this moment, some optimism and
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some hope for the future, and they deserve leadership from their government.
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They need to know when the federal mandates and restrictions will be lifted.
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So again, will the Liberals, will their Prime Minister, will their Ministers, will their
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Vote with us to present some optimism and some hope for Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, at every turn in this crisis, the Conservatives had an opportunity to de-escalate,
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to talk to those that were outside about dispersing and moving on.
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Instead, what we see is from the Interim Leader of the Conservatives, who came out and said
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that they should continue this for political purposes.
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The member for Carlton, who is currently a leadership candidate, out saying that he's
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proud and stands with the illegal activity that's happening outside.
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The member for Yorkton-Melville, saying that ripping down barricades, protecting the war
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memorial was an act of profound patriotism, passionate patriotism.