Juno News - January 30, 2022MP Michael Cooper and MP Damien Kurek talked with True North at yesterday's freedom rally
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
169.21858
Summary
In this episode, I sit down with MP for Calgary-Fort Saskatchewan, Doug Ford, to talk about the truckers' protest in the nation's capital, and what he's doing to make sure the voices of truckers and everyday Canadians are heard.
Transcript
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Well, we're out here to show our support to thousands of law-abiding, tax-paying Canadians
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who have come to the nation's capital to peacefully assemble and express their point of view.
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They need to be heard, and we're here to listen.
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Now, there have been people out here from Alberta,
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constituents who have come across the country from your neck of the woods.
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What is it you make of people going that distance to be here?
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Yeah, I think that this shows that Canadians want to be heard.
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And I have a number of constituents who I've been meeting with and plan to meet with throughout the day
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who are saying, look, it's time for decision-makers to listen.
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but it's time that the decision-makers understand that there are those that are frustrated with the status quo.
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It's time to make some changes, time to discuss what a path back to normal looks like.
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You know, it's been a very, very difficult two years with COVID,
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but it's time to ensure that we have those conversations about how we can do things like respect freedom,
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respect rights, respect the fact that there are those that are losing their livelihoods.
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It is absurd that, you know, when it comes to the auspices of what started this rally,
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the fact that truck drivers who were heralded as heroes even months ago are now losing their livelihoods.
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And I've spoken to some of those truck drivers, and it is absolutely heartbreaking
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that because of an edict from Ottawa that these heroes would lose their livelihoods.
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A lot of people who are here feel not only like they're not being heard by Trudeau,
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but also by their provincial governments, and even in cases by the opposition, by the Conservatives.
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So how is it that you make sure these people are heard in a way that isn't just about today,
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but longer term as we go through government response to COVID?
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We have opposed these mandates all along, and I'm going to do what I can do,
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and I know Damien will do the same, to take the voices of truckers and everyday Canadians who are here
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back to the House of Commons so that Justin Trudeau gets the message.
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I mean, these mandates have been a complete disaster.
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They're not keeping anyone safe, but what they are doing is they are punitive.
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They're ruining people's lives and livelihoods.
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And not only that, with respect to the mandates for the truckers,
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it's exacerbating the serious supply chain issues that we face in this country.
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So in terms of the cost of essentials, the produce on our grocery shelves,
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it's going to get a lot worse, and that's going to hurt everyday Canadians.
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So we've got to stand up and go back to the House and put all the pressure on the government to reverse course.
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What's the message that you even take as an MP when you leave this group here?
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It's time for decision-makers to start listening,
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because we can hear that their message is being shouted loud and clear here in Ottawa,
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and it's the same message that I think has been ignored throughout much of certainly the last number of months,
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and it's time for decision-makers to start listening.
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Certainly myself, and I know Michael and Conservatives are making sure that we are doing that listening
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that we can respect the fact that Canadians are tired, ready to move forward.
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And that's certainly the message that I plan to take to the House of Commons on Monday.