Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau says that 'mandates are the way to avoid further restrictions'

As protests over COVID-19 restrictions persist in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that mandates are the path toward avoiding additional restrictions.

Trudeau said the "government has been focused ... on following the best science, following the best public health advice to keep as many people safe as possible." He added that, "quite frankly, it's worked."

"And I can understand frustrations with mandates. But mandates are the way to avoid further restrictions," he said.

Many on Twitter pounced on the Canadian leader's comment.

"Restrictions are the path to less restrictions? Garbage doublespeak," one tweet declared.

"'We need this government intrusion so that we can avoid a different government intrusion' is not the selling point you think it is," Virginia Kruta tweeted.

"He’s such an appalling, cowardly moron. Canadians who voted for him should feel embarrassed," Buck Sexton tweeted.

"The only way to stop the beatings is more beatings," Andrew Wilkow tweeted.

Trudeau's comments came as protesters have been blockading streets in the country's capital city of Ottawa.

"Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens' daily lives. It has to stop," Trudeau said on Monday. He said that Ottawans, "don't deserve to be harassed in their own neighborhoods."

Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe recently put the kibosh on a fundraiser meant to support the protest movement.

Protesters have also engaged in efforts elsewhere in the country, interrupting traffic flow at areas connecting the U.S. and Canada, according to the Associated Press.