Ford must condemn convoy occupiers, not let his MPPs rally support

QUEEN’S PARK — Premier Doug Ford must condemn the convoy protests, rather than let his MPPs boost support for it. PC MPP Toby Barrett (Haldimand Norfolk) has publicly supported the convoy for over a week.

Barrett posted on social media on Jan. 28: “it is quite heartening to see so many drivers, and supporters on the highways and overpasses, across Canada presenting their concerns peacefully and safely.”

Barrett has further gone on to justify the Ottawa protests and called for the federal government to “Reverse course on the federal government vaccine requirement for cross-border truckers” and shared support for the illegal blockades of the Canada-United States border in Alberta.

On Thursday Ford appeared to encourage the convoy to come to Toronto, telling radio station CHML: “If people want to come down and protest, God bless 'em. I understand their frustration. I really do.

“The Ford Conservatives are pandering to extremists, and coddling anti-vaxxers,” said NDP Ethics and Accountability critic Taras Natysahak. “I’m calling on Ford to clearly condemn these violent protests, and instruct his caucus to stop supporting them. Ottawa businesses have been shut down for days, people are missing health care treatments or worried they are going to, and Nazi swastikas and Confederate flags have been marched through the streets. Ford is tolerating destructive extremism and everyday people are paying the price.”