OTTAWA—Protesters at a so-called “Freedom Convoy” border blockade in southern Alberta were “incited” when a pastor told them they should be willing to die for their cause during last winter’s protest crisis, a local mayor told the Emergencies Act inquiry on Wednesday. Shortly after the sermon, more tractors came in to block the lane that was cleared through the negotiations, according to Willett. “We still have neighbours that won’t talk to each other because of the protest,” Willett said. Willett ascribed the protesters’ decision to leave to the fallout of the RCMP arrests, rather than the federal decision to invoke the Emergencies Act. Critics of the decision say the move was unnecessary and could set a bad precedent for future use of the emergencies powers.

Source: thestar November 10, 2022 03:48 UTC