They left it up to local enforcement to clear the protest. When they were deemed unable to is when the emergency decree went into effect. And the Canadian gov

They left it up to local enforcement to clear the protest. When they were deemed unable to is when the emergency decree went into effect. And the Canadian government stated that some portion of the protests were either part of or linked to US militia groups: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/16/ottawa-blockade-strong-ties-extremists https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/16/ottawa-blockad...