Trudeau tests positive for Covid, rips anti-mandate demo
Anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate demonstrators gather as a truck convoy blocks the highway at the busy U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, near Sweetgrass, Montana on Monday. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he has tested positive for Covid-19 but is "feeling fine" and will continue to work remotely from home.
Trudeau said two of his children have Covid and a test Monday revealed he has it as been infected as well. And he used a televised virtual press conference to denounce anti-mandate protesters who filled Canada's capital to complain about Covid restrictions.
Some were protesting a rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully immunized against the coronavirus. The United States has imposed the same requirement on truckers entering that country so Canada removing it would make little difference.
Some demonstrators travelled in truck convoys and parked on the streets around Parliament Hill, blocking traffic — and a smaller but significant number remained on Monday.
Many Canadians were outraged by images over the weekend of some protesters urinating on the National War Memorial and dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while a number carried signs and flags with swastikas.
Many refused to wear masks in hotels, malls and grocery stores and one homeless shelter reported protesters had demanded it feed them.
"Canadians were shocked and quite frankly disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people in our nation's capital," Trudeau said. "I want to be clear. We are not intimated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small businesses and steal from the homeless. We won't give in those who fly racist flags. We won't cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans."
Some opposition Conservative lawmakers served coffee to the protesters and Conservative party leader Erin O'Toole met with some protesting truckers. The demonstration also attracted support from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Canada has one of the world's highest rates of vaccination against the coronavirus — shots that are primarily designed to keep those who become infected from falling seriously ill.
Protest organizers have called for the elimination of all Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates and for the removal of Trudeau, though he is responsible for very few of the restrictions, most of which were put in place by provincial governments.
The Ottawa police department has said it is investigating possible criminal charges over some actions during the protests.
"To those responsible for this behavior, it needs to stop. To anyone who joined the convoy but is rightly uncomfortable with the symbol of hatred and division on display, join with your fellow Canadians, be courageous and speak out. Do not stand for or with intolerance and hate," Trudeau said.