Canadian Truckers Form Anti-Vaccine Mandate Convoy

Image Courtesy of The New York Post

By Eduardo Castillon

The past month has seen the “Worldwide Rally for Freedom” organized in a number of countries including the UK, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S., and many others. These large protests, consisting of thousands of people, are reactant against COVID-19 restrictions in their areas. So far, the UK, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Denmark have lifted much of their pandemic rules after falling infection rates and high amounts of vaccination. On January 15, a restriction from the Public Health Agency of Canada would prevent non-Canadian truckers from entering the country without being fully vaccinated with pre-approved vaccination brands. 

According to the Canadian Minister Health Minister, Transport Minister, and Minister of Public Safety: “…starting January 15, unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers entering Canada will need to meet requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day 8 testing, as well as quarantine requirements.” 

In response to this restriction, truckers formed the “Freedom Convoy ” driving across Canada to its capital, Ottawa, in Ontario for another anti-mandate rally.

President Justin Trudeau said in a press conference on January 26 that the convoy was a “small, fringe minority of people on their way to Ottawa or holding unacceptable views, do not represent the views of Canadians…” 

Concerns have been raised at sightings of controversial symbols displayed during the truckers’ protest, such as American confederate and Nazi flags being carried. Protestors also draped a statue of famous Canadian humanitarian and activist Terry Fox in a Canadian flag with a sign reading “Mandate Freedom,” sparking some offense from Mayor of Port Coquitlam Brad West. 

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, who has made known his support for the Truck Convoy, disavowed extremism in a recent press release. O’Toole expressed his intention to prevent working class Canadians from having their message stolen and appropriated by extremist organizations. 

“For rallies across the country for years this has been an issue…When you get to rallies of this size you’re going to end up attracting people that don’t espouse to your view,s but there’s no correlation between the organizers of the rally or bad apples so to speak” said Conservative Strategist Jenni Byrne in one CTV interview. 

The convoy’s journey comes at a time of great strain on supply chains in Canada and the U.S. 

Giancarlo Trimarchi, the chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers and the president of a Southern Ottawa grocery chain, told CBC news, “We are experiencing product shortages with regard to cross-border shipments. It’s already starting to ramp up.” 

While the multiple causes of the supply chain are still complex, the Canadian Trucking Alliance estimated back on January 20 that 20,000 Canadian and American truckers could be impacted by the mandate.

When the convoy finally arrived in Ottawa on Friday night, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family were moved from Rideau Cottage to a secret location for safety concerns. Trudeau was already in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19 but announced testing positive for the virus on social media Monday morning. 

The truckers have made their presence known in the capital city, blaring their horns and setting off fireworks together. Speeches were made and testimonies from the truckers were taken. 

“Myself and a lot of other people are here because we’re just sick of the vaccine mandates and the lockdowns,” Brendon from Ottawa told Reuters, who chose not to give his last name. 

The protests are planned to continue through Tuesday, as of the publication of this article. Ottawa police have publicly stated that a number of criminal investigations are being pursued to look into any illegal activity during the convoy’s protest. 

Despite Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly warning the media on Monday about the possibility of violence breaking out, he still told reporters, “There have been no injuries, no deaths, no riots in the last four days in the nation’s capital, despite the fact that we have a global cause, national protest, tens of thousands of individuals for a wide variety of causes, who have gathered to actively demonstrate 24 hours a day for the last four days.” 

Complications have also arisen in terms of the convoy’s funding. Online fundraisers were set up: of note is one fundraiser collecting up to 6.3 million US dollars last week. GoFundMe had frozen the aforementioned sum until organizers provided a plan for managing the funds. More recently, GoFundMe released $1 million of the frozen fundraising sums to cover truckers’ fuel expenses. The company has stated they are in communication with the organizers over the release of the rest of the money. 

Many people from outside of Ottawa have been inspired by the truckers convoy. Smaller local convoys have been energized in Canada, but much further away, truckers in the Netherlands have also decided to start a “Convoy for Freedom” of their own, albeit much smaller.The truckers are still protesting today despite a few departures. Some provincial leaders have even begun talking about lessening certain restrictions. The rally has drawn both criticism and praise for their methods, leaving the truckers and the Canadian government in a stalemate to see who will give in first.