Northwest Territories MP Michael McLeod says his government is being cautious and responsible when considering the lifting of vaccine mandates and that the three-week old trucker convoy has over-served its purpose.

McLeod spoke to the Hub on Feb. 14 prior to Prime Minister Justin TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 announcement to invoke the Emergencies Act to respond to ongoing protests and blockades throughout the country with the truckerSA国际影视传媒檚 convoy

McLeod, who hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been to Ottawa since the convoy started three weeks ago, said he has chosen to stay in his home community of Fort Providence and connect through Zoom to avoid happenings in the nationSA国际影视传媒檚 capital.

SA国际影视传媒淚 havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been in Ottawa since the protests started and there has been a worry that there could be a blockade at the airport and I would have to stay there,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very difficult to get to and from the House of Commons right now.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to watch what happens with these protests because I donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be in Ottawa trying to go through a convoy or blockade. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 just getting a bit too nerve-wracking, I think, for me.SA国际影视传媒�

McLeod said for the most part he has been content with the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 response saying that vaccine mandates in place were intended to protect workers and not intended to punish the unvaccinated.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were brought in to give Canadians a peace of mind when traveling with other people,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think everybody recognizes that the public health measures related to Covid-19 have always been intended to be temporary and are going to be altered. If theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to be removed, they need to be guided by science and by experts.SA国际影视传媒�

In December the elected member issued a news release supporting vaccine mandates in the Northwest Territories because the NWT health care system at that time was considered pushed beyond its capacity, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I look back on it, the only thing that would need to be updated is the number of people that have died which has seen an increase in the numbers.SA国际影视传媒�

As far as the nationwide trucker convoy goes, McLeod said it began as a protest but seems to have morphed into something else entirely. Thousands of workers are being affected due to occupiers.

SA国际影视传媒淓verybody in the country is exhausted and tired of this pandemic and weSA国际影视传媒檝e all made sacrifices over the last two years for our health and for the health of others and (that exhaustion) has really started to show up, SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 starting to hear more about it as an MP from constituents.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 well past being called a protest. ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to see a review of how the protests have been handled at different levels of government. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been getting a lot of questions from people asking why (Ontario) Premier (Doug) Ford hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 done what he has done with other trucking protests. He has threatened to pull permits and threatened to pull registration. But in this case, heSA国际影视传媒檚 really done nothing.SA国际影视传媒�

Other questiosn that need to be answered include how the truckersSA国际影视传媒� movement has been financed from foreign capital and why there appears to be a discrepancy between how Indigenous activists are treated under some legislation versus how non-Indigenous people are being treated.

SA国际影视传媒淚n some of these protests there are open acts of cultural appropriation and, open displays of racism and hate,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here seems to be a lack of attention from the police who are supposed to enforce the law.SA国际影视传媒�