February 1, 2022 - "Forty-eight hours after an impromptu rave party erupted at the the biggest truckers' protest the world has ever seen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed me and my fellow Road Warriors from a secret location he had been spirited away to, out of a fear that our peaceful protest against vaccine mandates would turn into Canada's January 6.
I have attended protests and rallies in the past, when I agreed with the goals, when I supported the people expressing their concerns and their issues [our prime minister said]. 'Black Lives Matter is an example of that. But I have also chosen not to go anywhere near protests that have expressed hateful rhetoric, violence towards fellow citizens, and a disrespect, not just of science, but of the frontline health workers, and quite frankly, the 90 percent of truckers who have been doing the right thing to put food on our tables.
"Like the hysteria that preceded Trudeau's flight, his comments were pure propaganda; Ottawa Police reported no incidents and not a single arrest — at a protest topping 100,000 souls; indeed, the mood was absolutely festive. The peaceful protest included flags and signs in both of Canada's official languages and with more than a few four-letter words.
"Of course, ... there was hateful rhetoric, too. Everyone has seen the photos, because like Trudeau, the media chose to focus on it. They found the single Confederate flag, and the single swastika flag, and they made their stories [not] about 100,000 people peacefully protesting [but] about the two.... These flags and the sentiments they represent are ugly and reprehensible, and many of my fellow truckers suspect these two people were plants. But even if they weren't, tarring a demonstration that drew in excess of 100,000 people as racist and full of fringe extremists based on the actions of two people is quite a reach, proof of nothing so much as the fact that the media is clutching at straws to smear us .... [stress in original]
"The Freedom Convoy was originally envisioned by Albertans Tamara Lich and B.J. Dichter as a smallish group of truckers, farmers, their families and supporters, who planned to head to Ottawa and express their discontent with lockdowns and vaccine mandates.... But what was supposed to be a small protest soon ballooned, thanks to social media.... Within a few days, many more truckers were pledging to join the convoy, and the GoFundMe attracted thousands of small donations from regular Canadians, often in amounts of only $20 or $50; many of those same contributors wound up on the side of the road, waving flags and showing support to the convoy once they began to make way for Ottawa from all corners of the country. Videos of these roadside support rallies only increased donations, and further increased the number of Canadians turning up to bid the convoys well.... The Freedom Convoy might be one of the largest truly grassroots movements we've ever seen, and it's taken on a life of its own, exceeding the expectations of the organizers and touching something deep in the collective psyche of Canada....
"The media, bless them, and many of the rest of those in their class — unions and other labor organizations, various government entities, and Canada's political parties — had nothing to do with this movement, and they have no control over it. They were left out. They are viewed with disdain by the public, because they lost touch with the fact that people have had enough of this.... And now that this Freedom Convoy has reached the capital and set a fire across the world, all of these managers, these elitists, this media and email-job class who hid at home while the working class continued to keep society functioning, are clutching at straws to cast aspersions on those of us who want to move forward....
"But they should tread carefully; over and above the peril to already frayed and fragile supply chains, the working class of Canada have been inspired to action, and it is ever more obvious that we have no need for the assistance or approval of the classes who think they are so far above us."
January 30, 2022 - "Protesters against a vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the US-Canada border have brought Canada's capital city to a standstill for a second day. Thousands of demonstrators joined the so-called Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.
"Police have started investigations after several incidents, including the appearance of swastika flags and footage of a woman dancing on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Defence Minister Anita Anand said the incidents were 'beyond reprehensible'. Ottawa police said in a Twitter post that 'several' investigations were now under way into the 'desecration' of a number of monuments in the capital city, as well as 'threatening/illegal/intimidating behaviour to police/city workers and other individuals and damage to a city vehicle'.
"Elsewhere across the city, truckers blocked the streets around Canada's parliament building and Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson said some protesters had harassed staff at a soup kitchen, demanding free meals after they were turned away by restaurants for their refusal to comply with indoor mask mandates. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family also left their home in Ottawa over safety concerns on Saturday....
"The demonstration has grown beyond a call to end the cross-border mandate to a push to an end to all vaccine mandates nationwide, and some demonstrators have pledged to continue their protests until they are removed." Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60190452
January 30, 2022 - "Ottawa Police have reported zero arrests at the Freedom Convoy and Rally on Parliament Hill this weekend, this despite Justin Trudeau and several journalists warning that the protests would be violent and even suggesting that the truckers were domestic terrorists.... 'Large crowds remained in the downtown core throughout the night and were actively managed by police,' read a statement issued by the Ottawa Police Service Sunday morning at 8:00 am. 'Officers encountered several challenges with demonstrators, including sporadic road blockages by trucks, which officers worked to clear. These high-risk situations were de-escalated and resolved with no arrests.' A subsequent statement issued on Sunday evening at 7:30pm stated that police had dealt with some 'disruptive, inappropriate and threatening behaviour from demonstrators' but did not mention any arrests." Read more: https://tnc.news/2022/01/30/zero-arrests-all-weekend-at-freedom-convoy-in-ottawa/
Anthony Furey, "FUREY FACTOR: OTTAWA-BOUND CONVOY Truckers are protesting vax mandates; what will happen?" Toronto Sun, January 26, 2022:
January 28, 2022 - "On Thursday evening, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, who is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, sent an email to MPs about Saturday’s demonstration. 'Solicitations were issued to the online community for Members’ residential addresses in the Ottawa-Gatineau area,' he wrote. 'This is known as doxing—a process of finding and publishing personal information about a particular individual on the Internet, usually with malicious intent.' McDonell offered extraordinary advice to MPs: “Do not get involved and go somewhere safe,” and “close and lock all exterior doors.” Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvnd34/mps-told-to-hide-from-anti-vaxxer-trucker-convoy-by-parliament-security-chief
January 31, 2022 - "Ottawa residents are being urged to avoid non-essential travel into the downtown core and several businesses will be closed today, as the demonstration protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions enters another day. Hundreds of trucks remained parked on Wellington Street and other roads throughout the downtown core, with residents and businesses expressing frustration with the constant blaring of horns and fireworks at all hours.
"Ottawa’s mayor issued a fresh call for the protesters to leave on Monday, saying Ottawa residents have been 'more than patient' and the protesters are disturbing residents and harming small businesses. 'I think it’s time for them to move on,' Jim Watson told CTV Morning Live.... Ottawa police acknowledged Sunday evening that it's aware many demonstrators have announced their intentions to stay. [Ottawa Police] Chief Peter Sloly told CTV News Ottawa Sunday evening that officers are communicating with organizers to facilitate the safe departure of vehicles, but it is unclear when the protests will end.... '[T]here's no real clarity yet," said Sloly. 'I think the only thing we can say for sure we're still going to be dealing with some level of traffic disruption and demonstration over the next 24 hours.'" Read more: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/you-ve-made-your-point-ottawa-mayor-urges-freedom-convoy-protesters-to-leave-1.5760880
January 29, 2022 - "A convoy of thousands of truckers and other protesters converged on Parliament Hill Saturday to call for an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions — a raucous demonstration that has police on high alert for possible violence even as organizers urge the crowd to be peaceful. Hundreds of protesters on foot flooded into the parliamentary precinct on Saturday in the midst of an extreme cold warning, joining a lineup of truckers that started to arrive on the scene late Friday night.
"They were later joined by other drivers and demonstrators from all regions of the country that, in some cases, travelled thousands of kilometres to take their message to the streets outside of the Prime Minister's Office in the downtown core. Police said as many as 10,000 people were expected to be on hand by day's end, but by Saturday evening the force did not have an official estimate of the crowd's size. Also that evening, the group organizing the convoy sent out a schedule for Sunday events, including a prayer and press conference.
"The convoy has snarled traffic throughout the region, clogging arteries that lead in and out of the city centre. Law enforcement urged everyone to avoid travel to the downtown as it deals with the surge of people. The Rideau Centre, a major shopping centre only steps from the main protest site, was closed early after it was overrun with maskless patrons defying provincial rules for indoor spaces.
"The many trucks that have gathered along Wellington Street in front of the Parliament Buildings are adorned with banners denouncing public health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.... Dozens of truckers blasted their horns throughout the day and into the evening. Amid security concerns, Trudeau and his family have been moved from their home to an undisclosed location in the nation's capital, sources said.
"The protest, while loud and disruptive, has been peaceful to this point. As of 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, no charges have been laid against any of the protesters, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Police Service said. The police said at 8 p.m. ET no incidents of violence or injuries had been reported....
"Roughly a dozen protesters had parked their vehicles on the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Ottawa's National War Memorial earlier Saturday. The cars and trucks were removed by midday after orders from local police.... Later, protesters were seen dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, prompting condemnation from Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Canada's top soldier Gen. Wayne Eyre. Defence Minister Anita Anand called the behaviour of protesters 'beyond reprehensible.' The NDP called it 'despicable' and denounced symbols of hate seen in the crowd.... Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole similarly condemned the actions of those involved with the incidents at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Terry Fox statue.
"In another instance, a can of beer was thrown at a journalist covering the event. Protesters also set off fireworks as the evening began, which Ottawa police said Saturday should not be used downtown.
"Some of the protesters carried Canadian flags, while others held placards that urged people to "Think for Yourself," a slogan used in anti-vaccine circles. Some demonstrators were seen flying the Patriotes flag, a nod to the Lower Canada rebellions of 1837-38, when French-speaking settlers from present-day Quebec fought against British colonial rule. At least one Confederate flag was spotted in the crowd, a holdover from the U.S. Civil War that is often associated with racist and far-right elements. Indigenous demonstrators flew the Mohawk warrior flag and waved the flag of the Métis Nation."
January 26, 2022 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the 'fringe minority' heading to Ottawa in a truck convoy that hold 'unacceptable views' don’t represent the way most Canadians feel. He made the comments in a press conference Wednesday evening, on the heels of Global News reports that far-right and white nationalist groups see the convoy as an opportunity. 'The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa, who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians,' Trudeau said. '(Canadians) who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country.'" Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/8539610/trucker-convoy-covid-vaccine-mandates-ottawa/
January 28, 2022 - "A convoy of truckers is en route to Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates, but some politicians say the protest has taken on a life of its own and are concerned about possible violence on Saturday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he is 'concerned by extremist elements that are spreading misinformation and attempting to turn the convoy into a Canadian version of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Capitol,' in a statement released Thursday....
"'Individuals have the right to safely and peacefully protest,' said Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi in a statement to Canada’s National Observer. 'But from what we know about the protest that’s coming this weekend, it appears that some members of the group may be associated with racist, sexist, and xenophobic groups.' The Liberal MP said his community 'will not tolerate hate and vitriol and other acts of racism and violence'....
"'Every Canadian should have the ability to make their voice heard, but there is also a very real concern about the threat of violence,' said NDP MP Taylor Bachrach. 'The fact that we're hearing these kinds of deeply troubling messages is something I think all Canadians should be concerned about'....
"Last weekend, People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier organized a rally in Waterloo, Ont., to support the cross-border truckers' movement and continuously tweets support for and information about the convoy.... Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole ... broke his silence Tuesday evening in a Facebook Live event when he said he understands why many truckers, especially independent ones, are upset.... Former Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer tweeted his support for unvaccinated truckers and said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is 'threatening everyone's ability to get groceries because of his overreach on vaccine mandates.' Earlier this week, MP Garnett Genuis tweeted it is 'time to end Justin Trudeau’s nonsensical vaccine vendetta'.... Alberta MP Martin Shields recorded a video in front of Parliament Hill declaring his support for the truckers and their protest. 'I support peaceful demonstrations against these mandates,' a statement from the Conservatives’ deputy leader Candice Bergen reads....
"On Tuesday, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra ... [told] Canadians the small minority of truck drivers refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate has not affected trucking operations. Bachrach, the NDP’s transport critic, echoed Alghabra’s message and added extreme weather events across the country have contributed to the few empty shelves reported at grocery stores." Read more: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/01/28/news/mps-worry-anti-vaxxer-convoy-has-taken-turn-worse
January 28, 2022 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's concerned about the potential for violence during this weekend's planned protest on Parliament Hill by truckers and others joining the crowd to vent their anger about public health restrictions to combat COVID-19.... The so-called 'freedom convoy' has been billed as a protest against the federally imposed vaccine mandate on cross-border truckers, even though planning for the event began before the policy was established. While key organizers have said violence won't be tolerated, far-right extremists and white nationalists have latched onto it, with some calling for 'bullets' or a 'massive revolution' or a riot akin to the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol a year ago....
"Trudeau ... noted that the protesters use the appealing rallying cry of 'freedom.' But he said: 'The most important freedom is freedom for Canadians who are doing the right things to be able to get through and beyond this pandemic... And the way to do that is to trust in science, to follow public health rules and to get vaccinated. That's what standing up for rights and freedoms (looks like)'.... He slammed Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole for 'putting forward as his priority accommodating the unvaccinated.'
"O'Toole, who intends to meet with some of the truckers, has called for calm and a peaceful protest. He has also denounced people involved in the convoy who are espousing racist and extremist ideas. But he has not called out any of his MPs, including deputy leader Candice Bergen, predecessor Andrew Scheer and finance critic Pierre Poilievre, who have given full-throated support to the convoy and joined in accusing Trudeau of being a threat to Canadians' liberty."
January 27 - "Bumper to bumper traffic on the Trans Canada Highway as the ‘Freedom Convoy’ rolled through Dryden. Honking transport trucks and other passenger vehicles were greeted Wednesday by hundreds of local supporters with cheering, signs and more honking. Supporters gathered along Highway 17 at various spots, with Provincial Police controlling traffic and maintaining safety. It took well over an hour, if not two hours, for the convoy to get through town. The group is on their way to Ottawa in protest against COVID-19 mandates, with their next stop in Thunder Bay tonight." Read more: https://www.ckdr.net/2022/01/26/freedom-convoy-greeted-by-dryden-supporters/
January 27, 2022 - "A convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions headed to Ottawa made an overnight stop in the Thunder Bay area.... The convoy, which is reported to be over 17 kilometres long, began in protest of vaccine mandates for truckers returning to Canada, and grew to include protesters of a wide range of COVID-19 restrictions.... The first convoy departed Prince Rupert, B.C. on Jan. 22 and arrived at a truck stop at Twin City Crossroads on West Arthur Street at about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, with plans to depart the city on Thursday morning. About 113 transports and 276 other vehicles crossed the Ontario border as part of the convoy, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. Hundreds of supporters were on hand to greet the convoy....
"The protest convoy has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance and the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association.... The protest convoy has also been condemned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though some MPs, including former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, have shown support. Scheer attended a gathering in Saskatchewan in support of the convoy." Read more: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/protest-convoy-makes-stop-in-thunder-bay-4998517
Janurary 27, 2022 - "Horns blared as truckers, pickup trucks, cars and SUVs rolled out of the Innisfil ONroute Thursday morning. Shortly before 9 a.m., supporters and participants in the 'Freedom Convoy' of truckers that began their long drive across Canada to protest pandemic mandates in B.C. left the Highway 400 fuel stop on the last leg of their journey to Ottawa.
"'We’re doing this for freedom. Freedom of choice,' said Nigel Atkinson of Haliburton.... Sitting in his warm pickup truck on a frosty morning, Atkinson said he doesn’t believe there should be any COVID-19-related mandates. 'It’s got nothing to do with vaccinations or not, it’s about our freedom of choice and having our Charter of Rights restored to us. There should be no mandates, period'....
"'I’m here today so we can get our freedom back from Mr. Trudeau who is running our country not very appropriately. I’m a vaccinated truck driver, I cross the border weekly. I don’t have a problem with the vaccine, but I have a problem because we should have the right to choose what we want to do and not lose our jobs over it,.” said Marie Weir of Angus.... 'We just want our unity back, our freedom back. And it’s not just about the vaccine, it’s about everything; carbon taxes, everything – just life'....
"A mother, Jen, and her small son Bennett (no last names given) attended the rally. As the horns blared and cheers broke through the crowd when the trucks started moving, the mother pointed to her son’s coloured drawing of a truck he was holding up for all to see. 'We wish our truckers well. We are here because it’s enough for our kids, it’s enough they’ve carried this weight on their shoulders for two years – it’s enough. We deserve better than this, our country is better than this,” she said.
"As the convoy moved south on Highway 400, approximately 100 warmly dressed well-wishers waved banners and dozens of Canadian flags on Innisfil’s 4th Line overpass. The cacophony of horns from the truckers and supporters echoed under the bridge as they left Innisfil on their way to Toronto and eventually, Ottawa." Read more: https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/video-freedom-convoy-rolls-into-simcoe-county-11-photos-4999657
January 27, 2022 - ""In Vaughan, Ont., truckers were met by crowds of supporters, some with no connection to the trucking industry, but who came out to voice their opposition to pandemic public health measures. But while many in the crowd held signs against the mandate, some appeared to be more on the fringe, holding signs like: 'Join or Die' and 'Liberty or Death.' One supporter was seen draped in the flag of the far-right group the Proud Boys....
"Mike Millian is the president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada. Millian said his organization is against vaccine mandates for truckers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, but not for the reasons many in the convoy might be. 'Truck drivers are isolated in their jobs, haven't been associated to spread, and we can't afford to damage our supply chain any more than it is,' he said. 'But this convoy seems to have morphed into a kind of protest against all vaccine and COVID-related shutdowns.' He said he believes there are many in the convoy just trying to exercise their right to peaceful protest, but added that unless the messaging around it changes, it's unlikely to win the support of the broader public.\
"Speaking to CBC News as they rolled eastward through Vaughan, however, some truckers said they believed the convoy is exactly what's needed as the pandemic stretches into the two-year mark.
''It's overwhelming. The country needs this. It's about time,' said participant DeAndre Mahadeo. 'This is what brings the country together.... Now we're really feeling some appreciation in what we do. It's not an easy life, let me tell you that.' He said the vaccine mandate is 'totally wrong'....
"Kelly Staring, a single mother of one, also came out to show her support. She says she was fired from her job with Toronto Water for failing to report her vaccination status by the prescribed deadline. By the start of this year, the city had fired 461 employees for failing to comply with its mandate. Asked why she felt it was important to demonstrate, Staring said: 'To make sure they know not everybody on this side is a bad person. I'm a good person.' Staring added she contracted COVID-19 in March 2021, along with several of her colleagues, but all of them survived and are healthy today. Staring said she isn't convinced of the need to vaccinate." Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/freedom-convoy-truckers-1.6329870
January 28, 2022 - "The 'freedom convoy' rolled into Kingston, Ont. early Thursday evening, the latest stop for the trucking convoy on its way to Ottawa to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other government restrictions. Dozens of people lined the Gardiners Road overpass to Hwy. 401 waiving Canadian flags and cheering as the convoy pulled off the highway.... The convoy is scheduled to depart Kingston at 8:30 a.m. Friday for Ottawa. Another convoy is scheduled to travel from Kingston to Ottawa on Saturday....
"The convoy travelled from Vaughan, Ont. to Kingston Thursday afternoon, stopping in Port Hope and Trenton along Hwy. 401. Ministry of Transportation cameras showed crowds gathering at the Hwy. 401 and Keele interchange in Toronto to show support for the convoy as it travelled through the city.
"'The information we have is that there are four separate convoys at least, including Windsor, Sarnia, Niagara Falls and the Toronto area all coming together,' said Sgt. Steve Koopman of Kingston police Thursday afternoon.... Kingston police are working with Ontario Provincial Police and other agencies to monitor the convoy....
"The convoy of truckers and supporters protesting vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions are expected to arrive on Parliament Hill Saturday. The movement has gathered steam nationwide, with videos showing highway gatherings in support of the truckers. The Freedom Convoy is calling for the end of vaccine mandates in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.... The list of demands includes the federal and provincial governments terminating the vaccine passports and all other 'obligatory vaccine contact tracing programs', and terminate COVID-19 vaccine mandates." Read more: https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/truck-convoy-rolls-into-kingston-ont-1.5756220
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....
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/
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/
January 23, 2022 - "Hundreds of truckers set off from British Columbia to Ottawa on Sunday to protest a federal vaccine mandate despite the urging of the country's largest trucking federation to comply. The protest has been dubbed the 'Freedom Rally' against the federal mandate for cross-border truckers, which went into effect on Jan. 15. Canadian truck drivers now need to be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine and pre-arrival molecular test for COVID-19 before crossing into Canada. The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations say up to 26,000 of the 160,000 drivers who make regular trips across the Canada-U.S. border are likely to be sidelined as a result of the vaccine mandate.
"'The goal is we're going to get [to Ottawa by next weekend] and demand these mandates get stopped,' said rally attendee Candace Hill. Hill was speaking from Delta, B.C., where supporters and truckers had gathered Sunday before setting off on their cross-country trip. The convoy is scheduled to meet up with another that left from Prince George, B.C., in Calgary on Sunday night. But the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), a federation of the country's carriers, owner-operators and industry suppliers, released a statement on Saturday strongly disapproving of the protest. " Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/freedom-rally-bc-jan-23-1.6324942
January 24, 2022 - "The first leg of the convoy, dubbed The Convoy For Freedom 2022, is set ... to arrive in Ottawa on Jan. 29, where truckers from other provinces will join.... B.C. truck driver Colin Valentim ... will lead the B.C. leg of the convoy taking the western route and expects to be accompanied by others along the way. Two other convoys have different starting points: The eastern route is to begin on Jan. 27 in Enfield, Nova Scotia. The southern route will leave on the same day from Windsor, Ont. A Go Fund Me page for the cause has raised more than $560,000 to help with food, lodgings and fuel for the truckers." Read more: https://driving.ca/auto-news/local-content/cross-country-truckers-convoy-departs-b-c-for-ottawa-to-protest-vaccine-mandate
January 24, 2022 - "Today was the second official day of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy 2022 across Canada to protest vaccine mandates, forced vaccines and other heavy-handed government restrictions. Truckers in the West made their way through Alberta today and are expected to be in Saskatchewan by Tuesday....
"Supporters lined the roads in Kamloops as the convoy passed through the city.... Early this morning, a large group of truckers on their way to Calgary were spotted outside of Edmonton.... In Windsor, Ontario near the Canada-US border, trucks joined the convoy and were seen doing a slow-roll.
"Canadian author Jordan Peterson retweeted news that approximately 500,000 Canadian truckers will descend on Ottawa Saturday. He warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he’s in for 'a very bad week.'
"Asked twice today about whether or not he supports the trucker convoy and if he will meet with the truckers when they arrive in Ottawa on Saturday, Conservative leader Erin O’Toole refused to answer both questions definitively and instead encouraged truckers to get vaccinated. Unlike the Conservative leader, Alberta Conservative MP for Bow River Martin Shields publicly supported the truckers. He posted a video on Twitter in support of the convoy, saying “I am in Ottawa awaiting the trucking convoy on its way to the capital' and 'It’s time to get our freedoms back.'
"Dragon’s Den star Brett Wilson called out the legacy media and in particular, CBC, CTV, Global News and Fox News for their lack of coverage of the convoy saying that they have 'no right to ignore' the trucker protest. The GoFundMe in support of the truckers at the time this article was published has reached $3,739,140." Read more: https://tnc.news/2022/01/24/recap-of-day-2-of-the-truckers-for-freedom-convoy-across-canada1/
Jan. 25, 2020 - "GoFundMe has frozen access to the nearly $4.5 million in funds raised by the trucker convoy now wending its way across the country toward Ottawa in a protest against vaccine mandates.... Rachel Hollis, a spokeswoman for the crowdfunding platform, said ... 'Funds will be safely held until the organizer is able to provide the documentation to our team about how funds will be properly distributed.'
"As of Tuesday afternoon, funds were raised from 58,300 donors, according to the GoFundMe page of the 'Freedom Convoy.' Tamara Lich, who is also secretary of the fledgling Western separatist Maverick Party, launched the campaign on Jan. 14. It states that the money will go toward fuel as well as food and lodgings for big-riggers taking part.
"The Canadian Trucking Alliance, which has denounced the convoy protest, says more than 85 per cent of the 120,000 Canadian truck drivers who regularly traverse the border are vaccinated, but that up to 16,000 may be sidelined due to the new restriction, exacerbating supply chain problems.... Last Saturday the U.S. barred unvaccinated Canadian drivers from entering the country, mirroring Canada’s border filter for American truckers.
"In a Twitter thread Monday showing pictures of depleted grocery store shelves, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he was 'on the phone with U.S. governors' that morning who share his concerns. He said he is was working on a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end the dual vaccine mandates.
"Reese Evans, general manager of Evans Trucking, said 14 of his 36 drivers who typically haul lumber across the Alberta-Montana border are unvaccinated — and largely out of commission following the vaccine mandate. His outfit donated $5,000 to the campaign. 'When are they going to stop to realize that you’ve got to stop screwing with people’s livelihoods,' he said." Read more: https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2022/01/25/canada-trucker-convoy-gofundme-frozen/
September 28, 2013 - "On October 11, the very people who keep America moving will use the day to stop traffic in the nation’s capital.... The “Truckers Ride For The Constitution” Facebook page says, 'The American people are sick and tired of the corruption that is destroying America! We therefore declare a GENERAL STRIKE on the weekend of October 11-13, 2013!'
"I spoke with Zeeda Andrews, one of the protests’ chief organizers.... Andrews helped put together the initial Facebook page to support truckers and draw attention to 'regulations that are unconstitutional'.
"According to Andrews, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is currently pushing a law that would require every trucker to have a tracking device in his or her vehicle.... The DOT is also trying to enforce idling laws, which prohibit truckers from idling unless they keep a pet inside their vehicle. These laws can be enforced using the tracking devices mentioned above. Andrews points out that idling restrictions become a health hazard when it’s 10 below zero out....
"Obamacare is also having a drastic negative impact on truckers, according to Andrews. Many trucking companies are reducing workers’ hours to under 30 per week because they cannot afford to provide full health coverage (which, under Obamacare, will be mandatory for all full time employees)."
