Emergency Preparedness Minister says it is well past the time for the protest in Ottawa to come to an end

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says it is well past the time for the protest in Ottawa to come to an end.

He is one of six federal cabinet ministers who held a news conference this afternoon to address the protests that have paralyzed the area around Parliament Hill for more than a week.

Protesters and some MPs are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet the protest organizers but he has been adamant that he has no intention of meeting with what he calls a ``fringe minority'' that holds ``unacceptable views.''

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for an emergency debate in Parliament tonight.