Canada panel to investigate measures against trucker protest

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The Canadian government called an independent public inquiry into its decision to use the Emergencies Act earlier this year to deal with a trucker protest against COVID-19 restrictions that blocked border crossings and clogged the streets of the nation’s capital. Millions of dollars in trade was halted for days when several border crossings with the U.S. were blocked and the streets of downtown Ottawa were flooded with a national convoy of big-rigs and trucks protesting COVID restrictions. The protests drew support from some U.S. politicians and media, including former president Donald Trump,  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Fox News personalities and billionaire Elon Musk.