NDP showing leadership on convoy crisis while Prime Minister is absent

New Democrats are calling for the American ambassador to work with MPs and find solutions to stop funds from the US from fueling the convoy

OTTAWA – Today, NDP critic for foreign affairs, Heather McPherson, will move a motion calling on the American ambassador to Canada to appear at a parliamentary committee and help find solutions to stop the American interference in the ongoing national convoy crisis. McPherson hopes the information the ambassador provides will help to end the occupations and allow elected officials to ensure Canadians are never again in this position.

“Millions of dollars from anonymous donors and foreign actors are enabling the convoys and hurting Canadian workers across the country. Far right factions in the U.S. and elsewhere are trying to bring their radical views to Canada, funding extremists, emboldening racism and antisemitism, and threatening to overthrow the government. This absolutely cannot continue,” said McPherson. “Instead of the Liberals getting the situation under control, we're seeing these convoys spreading to other border towns. Canadians need to know what the plan is. So far they've gotten very little leadership from the Prime Minister in the middle of a worsening national crisis."

People in communities across the country are feeling the impacts of the convoy. Health care workers, retail workers, small business owners and residents have been harassed, intimidated and even assaulted during these occupations. Thousands of workers have been forced to stay home from their jobs which makes it harder for them to feed their families and pay their rent. Instead of showing leadership, for weeks now, the Prime Minister has spent more time looking for excuses than providing solutions.

Meanwhile, New Democrats have been doing everything possible to end the convoy which is hurting everyday Canadians. Last week, the NDP critic for Public Safety, Alistair MacGregor, introduced a successful motion to investigate the role online platforms like GoFundMe have played in allowing foreign actors to spread hateful rhetoric and attack Canadian democracy.

“It’s clear that Canadians have been missing national leadership during this crisis and our country is becoming more divided than ever,” added McPherson. “Unlike the Liberals, we’re using all the tools at our disposal to help Canadians get through this crisis. We need to make sure foreign actors are looking to threaten our democracy are stopped and are never able to create this kind of dangerous impact again.”