‘Increasingly severe’ penalties for convoy protesters who break law, feds warn

trucker convoy protesters who break the law will be “increasingly severe” as an occupation in Ottawa extends past two weeks and blockades spring up across the country.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a meeting Saturday with ministers and senior officials to see how protests, occupations and blockades can be brought “under control.”“I convened the Incident Response Group again today – we went over the efforts underway to address the illegal blockades and occupations,” Trudeau said on Twitter.

Police, protesters in standoff at Ambassador Bridge as clear-out efforts stall “We’ll continue to make sure municipal, provincial, and federal authorities have what they need to end the blockades and protect public safety.”The talks included “building on the Ontario government’s announcement of stiffer fines and penalties,” and providing “all appropriate” federal resources to protect public order, according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s office.Premier Doug Ford announced a state of emergency in Ontario on Friday, which allows authorities to give larger penalties — up to $100,000 in fines and a year in prison.The group on Saturday emphasized the “very real economic harm facing Canada as each hour passes where these illegal blockades remain unresolved,” according to the readout.“The Prime Minister stressed that border crossings cannot, and will not, remain closed, and that all options remain on the table,” the readout said.Blockades have convened at multiple points across Canada’s border with the U.S., including the country’s busiest crossing at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., as well as in Coutts, Alta., and Emerson, Man.Police attempted to clear the blockade in Windsor on Saturday but hit a stand-still as the.