Hundreds of truck drivers flock to Ottawa to protest vaccine requirements – Times of India

OTTAWA: Hundreds of trucks and thousands of people blocked the streets of Central Ottawa on Saturday as part of a self-titled “Freedom Convoy” to protest a vaccine mandate required to cross the US border.
Waving a Canadian flag, waving banners demanding “freedom” and shouting slogans against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the truck driver joined thousands of other protesters who are not only freed from COVID-19 restrictions but also with the government in broader terms. outraged by dissatisfaction.
There was a huge ruckus as hundreds of big trucks rumble, their engines rumble, their air horns sounded non-stop.
Close to parliament, families marched peacefully on a freezing cold day, while young people chanted slogans and older people in the crowd banged pots and pans under the windows of Trudeau’s office.
Canadian media said the prime minister and his family were kicked out of their home and taken to a secret location in the capital, angering most of the protesters at Trudeau.
“I want all this to stop – these measures are unfair,” said one of the protesters, 31-year-old businessman Philippe Castongue, outside the parliament building.
He drove seven hours from the province of northern Quebec to reveal his feelings: “Vaccination requirements are leading us to a new society we never voted for,” he said.
Protests began last week in western Canada, where dozens of truck drivers organized a convoy to drive from Vancouver to Ottawa to demonstrate against COVID-related restrictions, especially requiring vaccinations for truck drivers.
Canada and the United States both implemented that requirement in mid-January, affecting drivers who cross the 5,500-mile (9,000-kilometer) border—the longest border in the world.
The movement quickly gained steam as the original cross-country convoy was joined by others on their way to the federal capital.
His rally venue was Parliament Hill in the heart of Ottawa.
Stephen Penderness, a 28-year-old truck driver from Ontario, said he was protesting not just for his fellow drivers, but for all Canadians.
“It’s really for every single person … everyone on the street,” he said. “It’s all about your free choice.”
Retired teacher Angela Bernal, 67, said she wanted “governments to lift the measures,” adding that “maintaining the restrictions is useless.”
With a strong police presence around the federal capital, the protests went off without major incident, despite initial fears that violence might ensue.
The area around Parliament was closed for the weekend, and Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloughly described the situation on the ground as “unique, fluid, risky and critical”.
Police said they fear some protesters will stop ahead of Saturday’s protests, further affecting traffic.
Trudeau, who is currently in isolation following a COVID exposure, defended the vaccination mandate on Wednesday, noting that 90 per cent of drivers have already been vaccinated.
He called the city-bound truckers a “small fringe minority”, who do not represent the majority of Canadians.
Trudeau said Friday that the truck drivers’ views – which he described as anti-science, anti-government and anti-social – posed a risk not only to himself but to other Canadians as well.
Conservative opposition leader Erin O’Toole urged protesters to remain peaceful. He has promised to meet the truckers.
The movement found support Thursday from Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who tweeted, “Canadian truckers rule.”
To date, 82 percent of Canadians aged five or older have been vaccinated against COVID-19. In adults, this figure is 90 percent.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance, a major industry group, said most truck drivers in the country have been vaccinated. It has “strongly disapproved” of the gathering in Ottawa.