Canada convoy protest
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (January 2022) |
The Freedom Convoy 2022 is an ongoing Canadian protest against the proof of vaccination requirements for cross-border travel introduced by the Government of Canada on January 22, 2022.[1] Composed of several routes traversing all of the Canadian provinces, the convoys are expected to reach Ottawa on January 29, 2022, with a rally planned at the Parliament Hill.[2] It was fundraised by Tamara Lich, the secretary of the Western separatist party, the Maverick Party. GoFundMe has frozen the funds until Lich can provide proof as to how the money will be spent.[3]
Prior to January 15, 2022, truck drivers and other essential workers had been exempt from the two-week quarantine for the unvaccinated travellers crossing Canada's borders. The exemption's abolition has been criticised by some truckers and politicians for having the potential to exacerbate the supply chain disruptions already experienced in Canada.[4] The trucking industry, already dealing with labour shortages, could face an additional 20-25 % reduction of workforce.[5]
History
On November 19, 2021 the Public Health Agency of Canada announced upcoming adjustments to Canada's border measures.[6] Included in the announced adjustments was the requirement for essential service providers, including truck drivers, to be fully vaccinated after January 15, 2022. As well, the announced adjustments clarified that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign national truck drivers would be prohibited from entering Canada after January 15, 2022. This comes after the Department of Homeland Security previously announced on October 29, 2021 that proof of vaccination was going to be required to enter the US starting in January 2022.[7]. On January 22, 2022, like Canada, the DHS implemented proof of vaccination requirements for all non-US individuals entering land and ferry ports of entry.[8]
Protest Timeline
January 22 to 24
The first convoy departed Prince Rupert on January 22, arriving to Prince George in the evening. The following day, another convoy left from Delta with thousands of supporters cheering along the British Columbia Highway 1.[2] Both convoys merged in Calgary, followed by a rally on January 24 attended by thousands of people.
January 25
Convoy’s from eastern Canada started travelling towards Ottawa on January 25. Convoy’s from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and PEI have now joined. Reportedly 20,000+ truckers will be travelling from the United States to join the protest.[citation needed] The convoy has been stated by convoy spokesman Benjamin Dichter to be 70km long with up to 50,000 total vehicles taking part from all dispatch locations.[9]
Stated beliefs
The protest initially started with participants calling for the end to cross-border proof of Covid-19 vaccination requirements.[10]
Fundraising
Fundraising started on January 14, 2022 through the crowdsource fundraising platform Gofundme.The Taking Back Our Freedom Convoy 2022 GoFundMe quickly raised over $5 million dollars Canadian by January 25, 2022. On January 24, 2022 GoFundMe responded to questions by CTV News stating funds raised would not be distributed until the fundraising organizers could demonstrate how the funds would be properly distributed.[11] Following GoFundMe's decision on January 24, CTV News journalist Glen McGregor identified that lead fundraiser Tamara Lich opened an encrypted email ProtonMail account as a work-around to the GoFundMe fundraising page aiming direct email donations to an account directly managed by her.[12] The funds will be used to pay for truckers fuel after trucker register and fill out the proper application.
Statements and reactions
Canadian Politicians
- Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, dismissed the supply chain disruption concerns as unfounded on the basis that most Canadian truckers have been vaccinated.[4]
- Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Transport. stated that the truckers have had enough time to get vaccinated.[13]
- Andrew Scheer, former leader of the Conservative and MP of Regina—Qu'Appelle in Saskatchewan declared his support for the protest when it drove through Regina.[14]
- Garnett Genuis, a Conservative MP from Alberta, declared his support for the action, calling to immediately end the "nonsensical vaccine vendetta".[13]
- Martin Shields, a Conservative MP from Alberta expressed his desire to meet the protesters upon their arrival to Ottawa.[15]
- Maxime Bernier, The leader of PPC has showed support for these protests.
- Candice Bergen (politician), the Deputy leader of the opposition of Canada PC and also a member of Canadian Parliament has showed support for these protests.
US Figures
- Donald Trump Jr has praised the convoy stating “When we push back against the insanity, we can win, and that’s how all this ends...This is a genius idea. We need to see more of this in the U.S."[16]
Organizations
- Canadian Trucking Alliance, a truckers' trade association, criticized the peaceful protest due to public safety concerns.[13]
- Many small business’ across Canada are supporting the protest.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Campbell, Chris (January 23, 2022). "Truck drivers convoy across Canada in protest of federal vaccine mandates". CTV News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Meissner, Deb (January 23, 2022). "VIDEO: Crowd of supporters greets anti-vaccine-mandate truck convoy as it leaves Vancouver for Ottawa". Smithers Interior News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ McGregor, Glen (January 24, 2022). "Donors raise $4.7 million for truckers protesting vaccine mandate". CTV. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Gilmore, Rachel (January 24, 2022). "Majority of truckers are vaccinated, Trudeau says, as 'freedom convoy' heads to Ottawa". Global News. Retrieved January 24, 2022. Cite error: The named reference "Global" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Little, Simon (January 15, 2022). "What will the vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers mean for B.C.'s supply chain?". Global News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Government of Canada announces adjustments to Canada's border measures". Government of Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "DHS Releases Details for Fully Vaccinated, Non-Citizen Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land and Ferry Border Crossings". US Department of Homeland Security. US Gov. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "DHS to Require Non-U.S. Individual Travelers Entering the United States at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals to be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19". US Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ Warmington, Joe. "WARMINGTON: 'Freedom' truckers may form world's longest convoy". Toronto Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "COVID-19: B.C. truckers participate in cross-country 'freedom convoy' to protest ALL mandates". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ McGregor, Glen. "Glen McGregor (CTV) Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ McGregor, Glen. "Glen McGregor (CTV) Tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Tasker, John Paul (January 24, 2022). "Conservative MPs accuse Trudeau of pushing 'vaccine vendetta' as convoy protest heads to Ottawa". CBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Aiello, Rachel. "Conservative MPs cheer on trucker convoy, voice opposition to vaccine mandates". CTV News. Bell Media. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ Macfarlane, Bill; Ryan, White (January 24, 2022). "Truck convoy organizer raises over $3.8M; protest draws support and criticism". CTV News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Trump Jr, Donald. "Video: Heroic Truck Driver Stands Up To Medical Tyranny!". Facebook. Retrieved 26 January 2022.