• Ontario declared a state of emergency on Friday, following two weeks of trucker protests.
• Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the Freedom Convoy protests that have spread to Ottawa, Windsor, and Sarnia an “illegal occupation.”
• Ford said the province will take legal action against protesters that are non-compliant via fines and potential jail time.

Ontario declared a widespread state of emergency amid ongoing trucker protests on Friday.

Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, called the demonstrations against cross-border vaccine mandates an “illegal occupation.”

“This is no longer a protest,” Ford said at a press conference on Friday. “With a protest, you peacefully make your point and you go back home.”

Ford said he will “use legal authorities to urgently enact orders,” promising fines and jail time for non-compliance. To date, Ottawa police say they have made about 25 arrests and launched 60 criminal investigations into incidents, including “the desecration of the National War Memorial” as well as the appearance of Nazi and Confederate flags.

Canada can’t “have people occupying cities, holding them hostage,” Ford said, and urged demonstrators to go home…read more.