The group organizing the anti-mandate protest at the Manitoba Legislature has issued a letter calling for a meeting with Premier Heather Stefanson.
The group is also asking for a number of changes to current provincial and federal orders.
The group argues that it’s time we learn to live with COVID-19 and end mandates by establishing a clear path forward with set calendar dates.
That’s one of their five calls to the province in the letter, which is not signed with any individuals’ names.
They want the province to openly advocate to the federal government to remove travel and border restrictions and reinstate all federal employees who were placed on leave.
The group says it wants a review of the Emergency Measures Act and Public Health Act to ensure citizens’ constitutional freedoms will be respected in the future.
And they want an immediate return to “democratic dialogue” and for conversations with all stakeholders.
A spokesperson for the premier didn’t say whether Stefanson would meet with organizers following their request to speak.
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“We recognize the last two years have been incredibly challenging — physically, mentally and financially — for all Manitobans, and we all look forward to when we can lift all public health restrictions when it is safe to do so,” the spokesperson told Global News in an email.
“Given the current COVID-19 situation and projections, we are able to confidently move forward with our plan to relax restrictions starting today, with the intention to lift all restrictions by the spring.”
The province will continue consulting with public health when it comes to relaxing restrictions even further going forward, the spokesperson continued.
“We continue to work with all levels of government on how to best support each other through this difficult time and plan for a strong pandemic recovery.”
On Monday, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen told Global News that the province wouldn’t let a protest influence how public health orders are determined.
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