Trudeau wants blockade situation resolved peacefully

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau, who convened the Incident Response Group on Monday to discuss the federal government’s engagement to resolve infrastructure disruptions caused by blockades across Canada as soon as possible, stressed the importance of resolving the situation in a peaceful manner, with continued dialogue to address underlying issues in the spirit of reconciliation.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair, Minister of Indigenous Services Marc Miller, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti also participated.

Trudeau and the ministers all agreed on the importance of freedom of expression as a democratic right, and they discussed the need to approach this urgent situation in a way that builds trust and respect towards an immediate resolution with all parties, according to a statement from the Prim Minister’s Office.

Freeland, Bennett, Rodriguez, and Miller provided an update on their ongoing outreach to provincial and Indigenous leaders, including with Mohawk Nation and Gitxsan Simgyget, Wet’suwet’en Dini Ze’ and Ts’ake ze. Morneau and Garneau briefed the group on the economic impacts of the disruptions on business, farmers, travelers, and communities across Canada.

Trudeau re-emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for ministers to continue to be engaged at all levels to resolve this quickly to minimize these very real impacts on Canadians. All participants committed to continue to cooperate closely and to be fully engaged.

Trudeau and the ministers remain actively involved in this issue by continuing to reach out to premiers and Indigenous leaders to bring this situation to a resolution as soon as possible, said the statement.