MNI BRIEF: Canada Says Truck Protests Threaten Elected Govts

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Friday truck protests that have blocked Parliament and recently shut border crossings carrying exports worth 30% of GDP are a threat to democracy in the country, some of the sharpest words to date after three weeks of demonstrations.

“Today, our economy and our democracy are facing a serious and foreign-funded threat. These illegal blockades and occupations cannot be allowed to usurp the authority of democratically elected governments,” Freeland, who also serves as finance minister, said at a press conference.

The blockades “will end for good” Freeland said. Parliament suspended debate Friday on an emergency law, citing security concerns as police moved to arrest protest leaders and others who refuse to leave streets near the legislature. The emergency law needs support from both chambers of parliament to remain in force and a vote in the House of Commons is expected Monday, with Liberal and NDP support likely enough to pass the motion. An earlier blockade of a bridge between Detroit and Canada's auto plants was cleared by police last weekend.