Convoy opposing trucker vaccine mandate draws large crowd, concerns over comparison to Holocaust | CTV News - Josh Crabb:
January 25, 2022 - "A cross-Canada freedom convoy in opposition of a federal vaccine mandate for truckers arrived in Winnipeg to a large and boisterous crowd of hundreds of people.... People and long lines of vehicles gathered on both shoulders of Highway 1 in Headingley, just west of Winnipeg to show support. An RCMP officer on scene said police along with convoy organizers both decided it was unsafe for the group to stop because there were so many people along the road and there was no room for the trucks to stop in the Flying J truck stop which was supposed to serve as a pit stop for the rally.
"'It’s just simply for safety,' said RCMP Sgt. Mark Hume, who was one of several officers on scene directing traffic on the highway near the truck stop. 'There’s too many people gathered in there, too many vehicles,' Hume said.... 'We had every intention of not stopping them but there’s too many people'.... RCMP officers were on scene throughout the rally and said in an email the convoy was 20 km long....
"The convoy has gained notoriety in the wake of the federal government’s vaccine mandate for truckers but an organizer of the pit stop to greet the travellers acknowledged the concern goes beyond just that one issue. 'We’re fighting for our human rights that our forefathers fought for and we want to make sure that we still have our freedoms and rights,' said Trevor Gatchell, who helped organize the pit stop at the Flying J.... 'They’re not anti-vax, they’re not pro-vax it’s just about freedom of choice, freedom of rights that we’ve had'.... The convoy is on its way to Ottawa to oppose the mandate....
"Flying J, the company that runs the truck stop where the rally was held said it respects the rights of individuals to express their opinions.... The RCMP said Tuesday afternoon no tickets connected to the rally were handed out."
Read more: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/convoy-opposing-trucker-vaccine-mandate-draws-large-crowd-concerns-over-comparison-to-holocaust-1.5754240
January 25, 2022 - "In Kenora, where the temperature was expected to drop to -27C on Tuesday night, a host of volunteers were preparing to welcome a massive convoy of truckers. About two dozen people could be seen gathered at a community hub downtown, packing boxes of snacks and making sandwiches, in a video livestreamed to Facebook by a supporter of the “Freedom Rally” — a convoy of truckers and their supporters that has been making its way this week from British Columbia to Ottawa in a protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.... Kenora was scheduled to be the first Ontario stop for the controversial convoy.
"The organizer who posted the video told the Star she was 'so beyond stoked' that the truckers were coming to the town of about 15,000 people, where according to Statistics Canada data about nine per cent of residents work in the trucking industry themselves. That organizer then stated that she and everyone supporting the convoy have been told not to speak to the media.... A second organizer confirmed that the Kenora supporters had been asked by convoy organizers not to speak to media....
"Kelli Saunders, meanwhile, had found a parking spot with her husband close to the Trans-Canada Highway, where the truckers would be rolling by. She said they were ready, with homemade signs and five layers of clothing, to go outside and cheer. 'Kenora is located right on the Trans-Canada, between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay. We’re a main thoroughfare,” she said.... 'This has been a hard two years for everyone. It’s been extremely mentally draining,' she said. 'I’m really proud of this group of truckers and the way Canada has come together along the route to support them'....
"En route to Ottawa and expected to arrive Saturday, the convoy has been sparked by government measures to stop unvaccinated truckers from crossing the Canada-U.S. border — and has grown into a conservative movement opposing other COVID-19 restrictions put in place by Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government. Conservative politicians and Canadian volunteers opposed to vaccine mandates are throwing their support behind the growing group of vehicles, which was reported to be 20 kilometres long as it worked its way through Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Tuesday."
Read more: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/25/freedom-rally-truckers-convoy-hits-ontario-picking-up-conservative-political-support-as-it-rolls.html
January 25, 2022 - "Truckers from Atlantic Canada will soon join a national 'freedom convoy' headed for Ottawa. On Thursday, truckers from the four provinces will meet in Moncton, N.B., before departing for the nation’s capital. This Saturday, they will rally with other truckers arriving from all over Canada. 'The goal is that the entire trucking network and convoy will wrap itself right around Ottawa and give it a great big bear hug,' says Leanne Carter, the Maritime coordinator for the Canada Unity freedom convoy.
"Truckers remain upset about the federal vaccine mandate that requires drivers in the industry to be fully vaccinated to enter the country without being required to self-isolate. Carter believes there is a significant lack of dialogue between the public and the federal government, which is why they seek a conversation with elected officials.... Carter encouraged Canadians to decorate their cars with Canada flags and travel alongside the truckers for as long as possible."
Read more: https://www.1015thehawk.com/2022/01/25/atlantic-canadian-truckers-join-freedom-convoy-on-thursday/
‘Freedom convoy’ expected to move through Greater Toronto Area Thursday | Global News - Ryan Rocca:
January 26, 2022 - "The so-called 'freedom convoy' is expected to make its way through the Greater Toronto Area on Thursday.... Truckers are heading to Ottawa from east and west parts of the country, as well as from southern Ontario where routes are departing from several locations including Windsor, Sarnia, Niagara and Toronto on Thursday, according to the website. The website indicates that the convoys will be passing through the Toronto area in the late morning hours, into the afternoon. The Toronto convoy is scheduled to leave from Vaughan Mills at noon. The groups are then scheduled to arrive in Kingston Thursday evening and begin heading to Ottawa on Friday, the website says.
"Organizers of the protest describe the Canadian government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers to avoid quarantine as an example of political overreach resulting in economic harm, arguing the policy hurts small businesses and denies some workers the means to survive."
Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/8539843/greater-toronto-area-freedom-convoy/
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