Convoy going Strong ! The Raven ! on Location In Ottawa!

Legacy Media reports !
OTTAWA
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino previously confirmed that more resources will be sent to end blockades in Ottawa, Windsor and Coutts.

Ottawa has formally requested 1,800 more bodies, including 1,700 officers and 100 staff, from the Ontario and federal governments, with 250 RCMP officers deployed since.

Speaking during a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said "everything is on the table" to see the ongoing protests and blockades set up across the country end.

"This unlawful activity has to end, and it will end," Trudeau said. "I can't say too much more now as to exactly when, or how this ends because unfortunately we are concerned about violence. So we're taking every precaution to keep people safe, but the absolute safest way for this to end is for everyone to return to your communities."

Trudeau said the protesters' frustrations with public health measures have been heard, and it is time for them to go home or face legal consequences, something he discussed in a call with U.S. President Joe Biden earlier on Friday.

Speaking at an Ottawa Police Services Board meeting, Police Chief Peter Sloly said Friday he is waiting for a full description of the new powers that the Ontario government will put in place.

"But there won't be the fullest extent of that new set of legislation without additional resources," he said.

"So to the extent we have resources, we'll use the new powers as another tool around ending the unlawful and unsafe aspects of this demonstration as quickly, as safely and as lawfully as possible. The more resources we get the more we can do."

At the same time, he repeated his appeal to those planning to arrive in the city this weekend, telling them, "Don't come."

BLOCKADES CHOKING SUPPLY CHAINS
The president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), a federation of provincial trucking associations, says these blockades are now hurting truckers and the industry, despite the "Freedom Convoy" initially starting as a protest on their behalf.

According to the CTA, the border crossings currently blocked in Ontario and Alberta total about $150 billion in trade between Canada and the United States by truck each year.

CTA president Stephen Laskowski told CTV's Your Morning on Friday that transport industry businesses, short of drivers and equipment to deliver shipments, are "running out of patience" due to ongoing blockades at the Canada-U.S. border.

Laskowski said the roadblocks have caused wait times of six to eight hours for truckers to cross, which takes a toll on drivers.

"They have no access to food for six to eight hours other than what's in their truck, [no] washrooms, they're losing shifts, the mental stress, there's nowhere to park their trucks … to rest," he explained.

"Most importantly, of all of these things that drivers are telling us their reputation as truck drivers are being hurt by these people who have nothing to do with our industry that are involved in this."

Because of this, he says the blockades need to be resolved "immediately."

"Seventy per cent of the U.S. trade moves by truck and the vast majority of food products that we bring in from the United States, almost all moves by truck. It's critical that these pieces of infrastructure that are critical trade networks be opened up as soon as possible," Laskowski said.

Laskowski says the protests have been "hijacked" by people who are not affiliated in any way with the trucking industry. He noted that his organization is receiving calls from protesters, asking if the CTA can send trucks to the demonstrations as many aren't truckers themselves.

"As we move forward we need to all remember that these blockades are not a part of the trucking industry, real heroes are the ones that are caught behind these blockades," Laskowski said.