Massive trucking convoy heading to Ottawa, organizers say they want to topple government

Hundreds of truck drivers descended upon the Greater Toronto area on Thursday before heading to Ottawa for a rally this weekend.

The rolling protest, dubbed the ‘freedom convoy,’ was sparked by cross-border vaccine mandates for truck drivers — though many of the participants now insist the rally is about all government health mandates.

Canada Unity is the central group organizing this convoy and it’s posted online a memorandum of understanding for this protest. The group even demands the governor-general and the senate sign a document to essentially replace the federal government with a ‘Citizens Committee’ that this group will help choose. 

The beginning of the “freedom convoy” has just passed through Port Hope. The truckers, as best we can tell, are driving in multiple groups and they’re running behind schedule. The bulk of the convoy was supposed to arrive in Kingston at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/bKuYg0Qnek

— Adrian Ghobrial (@AdrianGhobrial) January 27, 2022

Duane Bratt is a political scientist with Mount Royal University. He tells CityNews that this demand mixed with online aggression and talk of violence is a serious security concern. He notes it only takes a few people to start trouble that can quickly spiral out of control.

He adds it’s also been worrisome to see the people behind this protest layout a plan similar to the idea of the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of Capitol Hill in Washington DC. 

“Even if there’s only a small sliver that believes that the current government is illegitimate, that that is a security concern,” he says.

Police say they’re prepared for all outcomes and monitoring any threats. 

The Sgt-at-Arms has sent a note to MPs warning them of doxing ahead of the trucker protest. There have been attempts to post online the home addresses of MPs in the Capital Region. Warns them to go “somewhere safe” if there is a protest outside their home or office #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/8DQhdIxxW5

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 27, 2022

Parliamentary security, police preparing 

Ottawa police estimate there could be up to 2,000 demonstrators when the convoy reaches Parliament Hill. Law enforcement in the nation’s capital is closely monitoring the situation.

A semi-trailer emblazoned with an expletive against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was spotted already in downtown Ottawa Thursday, but many more vehicles are expected over the next two days.

Their exact number is difficult to measure but Ottawa Police have warned city residents to avoid travelling within the nation’s capital over the weekend and to be prepared for delays if they do.

The city’s police force also said Thursday it welcomes peaceful protest but not violence or hatred.

“Police and our partners are focused on providing a safe environment for the community and demonstrators,” the Ottawa Police Service said in a statement on Twitter.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance has disavowed the convoy, saying it “strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways, and bridges.”

Though many of the participants now insist the rally is about all government mandates, the rally was sparked by the federal government’s policy mandating proof of vaccination for truck drivers crossing the border. Those who are unvaccinated are subject to a two-week quarantine and pre-arrival molecular test for COVID-19 before crossing into Canada.

Some drivers are arguing the mandate violates their freedom, prevents them from making a living and slows down the delivery of food and other products to parts of Canada.

The U.S. has also barred unvaccinated Canadian drivers from entering the country, mirroring Canada’s border filter. American truckers are also being turned away at the Canadian border unless they have been fully vaccinated.