Coda

The protest now has little to do with cross-border vaccine mandates, if it ever did. Truckers are a small minority of the participants. It's basically an event for right-wingers to protest Trudeau, even though almost all of the pandemic-related mandates and restrictions were implemented at the provincial level, not the federal level. The stated intent of "Canada Unity" is basically to remove the power of the Prime Minister and the House of Commons and to override provincial and pandemic related mandates and restrictions at the federal level.

I would guess that none of those people at the War Memorial are truck drivers. More likely just a bunch of 30-year-old yahoos that are upset they can't always party in their favourite bar and have to wear a mask in the stores.

If you want discourse: eliminating Federal Restrictions would do nothing to allow unvaccinated Canadian truckers from continuing to cross the American border: they aren't allowed to per American law. And because healthcare is a provincial responsibility, almost all mask mandates, vaccine mandates, business closures, and other covid restrictions that effect the general public are not related to federal law enacted in Ottawa at all.

Imagine using the legacy of a hero like Terry Fox who used all of his energies to try to eliminate a disease to support ending health measures like vaccine mandates?

It seems not many people know about the apparent intentions of the extremist organizers of this event including Pat King. The "Memorandum of Understanding" that they plan to present to the Governor General and Senate has been on their website for a few weeks. It is completely unrealistic, and would essentially entail a coup whereby the powers of the Prime Minister and the House of Commons would be eliminated and a "Citizens of Canada Committee" would be established with members appointed by the Governor General, the Senate, and "Canada Unity" to oversee the abolition of all Covid related measures at every level of government. It can be read here: https://canada-unity.com/mou/ Articles 1, 2 and 3: ARTICLE 1. SCOPE of ACCORD Canada Unity (CU) offers this “Memorandum” to the Senate of Canada and the Governor General of Canada, the highest authorities representing the Federal Government (SCGGC) as “The Government of Canada”. Acceptance by endorsement of this “Memorandum” and its valuable considerations, will solidify our mutual accord as further detailed in the understanding. ARTICLE 2. OBLIGATION and COOPERATION The appointed “Entities” agree to work together in the true spirit of partnership to ensure there is a united, visible, and responsive leadership of the “Initiative” and to demonstrate fair practice according to the Canadian Constitution, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Privacy Act and as further described in Article 3.d. of this “Memorandum” administrative and managerial commitment to the “Initiative”. ARTICLE 3. MANDATE CU & SCGGC agree to form a committee, called the Citizens of Canada Committee (CCC). SCGGC undertakes and appoints authorized (CCC) representatives. CU undertakes and appoints authorized (CCC) representatives. CU & SCGGC adopts and adheres to The Government of Canada’s agreements on transparency in matters related to the Canadian Federal Referendum Act, Canadian Constitution, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, Canadian Human Rights Act, Canadian Bill of Rights, National Security Act 2017, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, Tri Council Policy Statement, National and International Human Rights Declarations and such Regulations et al, the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki all as provided by law, and not only limited to latest additions, addendums and revisions; and to be precise including laws, regulations and declarations prior to SARS-CoV-2, and any subsequent variations of SARS-CoV-2. SCGGC will effective as of midnight on this ___, day of ___________, 2021 to . SCGGC will effective as of midnight on this ___, day of ___________, 2021, the Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal governments instruct all levels of immediately cease and desist all unconstitutional human rights, discriminatory and segregated actions, and not limited to, immediately instruct all levels of the Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal governments to not only stop, but furthermore waive all SARS-CoV-2 (and not limited to SARS-CoV-2 subsequent variations) fines that have been issued and imposed upon its citizens, institutions, and private enterprises the Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal governments to re-instate all employees in all branches of governments and, not limited to promote the same to the private industry and institutional sectors employees with full lawful employment rights prior to the wrongful and unlawful dismissals that stem from the SARS-CoV-2 (and not limited to SARS-CoV-2 subsequent instruct all levels of variations) vaccine passport mandates. Page 2 of 6 SCGGC will effective as of midnight on this ___, day of ___________, 2021, issue a cease-and- desist order abolishing all Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal Vaccine Passport requirements, Vaccine discriminatory regulations, initiatives, and mandates in regard to SARS- CoV-2 (and not limited to SARS-CoV-2 subsequent variations). Further, SCGGC will effective as of midnight on this ___, day of ___________, 2021, issue a cease-and-desist order to the respected Honorable Members of the Government of Canada with the consequent instructions to further instruct the Premiers of the Provinces and Territories, the Mayors of the respected Municipalities and, the respected Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal Medical Officers to stop all such unlawful activities pursuant to ARTICLE 3. MANDATE section d. of this “Memorandum.” Canada is a lawful member of the Helsinki Declaration to name one but not limited to additional Canadian and International Human Rights Laws and Regulations et al and therefore enacts its duty and responsibility to make any and all laws and regulations available to its citizens; further, to enforce and uphold such laws, regulations, and declaration(s) on behalf of its Citizens of Canada. By signing this “Memorandum”, CU will immediately stop “Operation Bear Hug Ottawa”, demonstration / convoy and Federal Referendum activities and will strive to work with all groups and entities et al to bring this country together in unity. CU & SCGGC agree to have the CCC committee formed within 10 days of acceptance and signing of this “Memorandum”. CU & SCGGC agree to have a final “signed” and publicly released agreement in place within “no later than 90 days” of acceptance and signing of this “Memorandum”. CU & SCGGC agree to only release jointly approved media / press statements on a daily basis during the time schedule specified in ARTICLE 3. MANDATE section paragraph k. and l. SCGGC will immediately make available all schedules as described in ARTICLE 3. MANDATE section paragraph d. available to the CCC committee.

I expect 90% of the protestors in Ottawa intend to protest peacefully, even if they are somewhat confused about what they could actually achieve by protesting the Federal Government. But it is evident that there are far-right extremists there with them (including organizers like Pat King).

I hope you realize that the United States has the same requirements for cross-border truckers as Canada does. Unvaccinated Canadian truckers would still be unable to do their jobs even if all Canadian restrictions were lifted. It is also somewhat humorous that Scott Moe, the leader of the Saskatchewan provincial government that actually controls the vast majority of mask mandates, vaccine mandates, and other covid-related restrictions that effect the general public, hints that he may "in the not-too-distant future" end one of these restrictions. It's pretty obvious that he's pre-emptively trying to keep the pack of dissidents who may currently not understand how the different levels of government in Canada operate from turning on him.

There is never a point where people "know all the truth". You could argue that the fallout from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has contributed to these more recent investigations being undertaken at all, so I'm not sure that delaying the results of that commission from being released for a decade or two would really have been beneficial to anyone.

Yes, Richmond and the rest of the Fraser Delta will be completely @#$%ed when the big earthquake arrives. The land will experience liquefaction, the dikes will break, and the entire area will turn into a bog. These floods in 2021 should be used as a serious wakeup call for longterm planning in the Lower Mainland.

Maybe there should be stricter laws in place preventing residential building in areas that are expected to be flooded semi-regularly. Of course the question is where do you draw the line.

Why governments didn't spend millions to prevent billions worth of damage is going to become a big story here. Take just one example: a breach of the Sumas dike at Cole Road, which was reported as being 60cm too low in 2015. https://theprovince.com/news/province-was-studying-dike-integrity-but-data-not-to-be-available-until-next-month You can see on google maps street view that the dike dips noticeably at this crossing...the fact that nobody in charge ordered a road crew to spend a couple of days fixing the problem is an incredibly costly mistake. https://goo.gl/maps/9ReHVbEJvVkjDKWYA

Surprised this thread only has 3 pages. Apparently this could become Canada's most costly natural disaster ever, if you exclude the two-year Covid pandemic. B.C. floods could be Canada's most costly natural disaster with $32 billion in losses: study https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-floods-could-be-canadas-most-costly-natural-disaster-with-32-billion-in-losses-study

I'm not sure about that. I worry that if Rittenhouse gets off on the major charges it will encourage others to do the same thing: Attempt vigilante justice by open carrying firearms into situations that they know will turn violent and then use the established precedent of "self defence" to get away with killing people when things turn violent. From my viewpoint there seem to be millions of people in the USA who are near the knife's edge of turning violent.

Yes it is interesting. See the video above. Kyle Rittenhouse could have easily ended up dead after the first shooting. If he had I imagine he would be being treated as a martry much the same as Ashli Babbitt is being treated now by the Trumpkins.

He wasn't protecting his own property, he was acting as a vigilante in a neighbourhood quite distant from his own and in another state. Do you really want the United States/Canada to move farther towards an environment where vigilante justice is accepted? To most Canadians I think that seems counter-productive, and a return to a more primitive society. Here's an interesting take on the recent trial proceedings:

Rittenhouse was underage, but in the USA 2nd amendment rights and open carry laws in many states say adults basically can patrol the streets. As long as the other guy makes the first move shootin' is fair game.

Watching the trial live today: There really is an issue with the boomer judge not having a basic understanding of technology. At one point he called pixels "pickles", and was on the verge of disallowing enhanced footage because the prosecution couldn't prove the software wasn't changing its colour. I'm not sure how he has got through a 40 year career without familiarizing himself with basic methods of digital forensics, but here we are...

Yes that could possibly be very good value if Hughes matures defensively in coming years.

Does it really though? If both deals are 2-3 bridge deals as rumoured the Canucks still have control. The biggest issue with the next deal will be cap-space, and a holdout for big bucks just forces the Canucks to trade one of them or other good players on the team.

Not sure how the contracts being the same length benefits the two players. If anything it means there will be less money to go around when their contracts come up again.

Any hour now

Sounds like bridge deals are the most likely outcome. The only problem is basically the Canucks entire core will need new deals in 2-3 years. As usual

Canada is going to have a great group of forwards. Crosby might be the third-line centre. The defence and goaltending is likely going to be a little worse than 2014 though.

I mean, Usain Bolt had a season best time of 9.95 the year he retired in 2017. So I'm not really sure how you expect him to beat DeGrasse's 9.89 4 years later at age 34.