Ambassador Bridge blockade escalated economic threat from 'Freedom Convoy': Deputy PM

Four days before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government invoked the Emergencies Act to deal with ``Freedom Convoy'' protesters, a key White House official made it clear the US wanted Canada to get the situation under control.

A public inquiry has heard that Brian Deese, the director of President Joe Biden's National Economic Council, contacted Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on February 10th.

Freeland testified that she had spent a lot of time trying to convince Deese that Canada was a reliable trading partner.

She says that reputation was challenged once protesters began blockading the Ambassador Bridge, which is the busiest trade route between Canada and the US.