Truckers for Freedom convoy enters Ontario with growing attention, opposition and support

Dakota Christensen
  |   January 26, 2022

The first leg of a convoy of Canadian truckers has reached Ontario as its travels cross-country to protest Canada's vaccine mandates and other ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in the nation's capital.

Three separate convoys of truckers will be travelling along routes starting from British Columbia in the west, Newfoundland in the east, and Windsor, Ontario in the south, all departing at separate times so as to arrive jointly in Ottawa on January 29.

The nationwide movement was initially catalyzed by a federal vaccine mandate that came into effect January 15, requiring all commercial truck drivers crossing into Canada to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The mandate could result in a loss of 12,000 to 16,000 cross-border commercial drivers, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Thousands of Canadians have come out to show their support at roadsides, overpasses and truck stops along the way as the first leg of the convoy continues its journey east toward Ottawa.

The convoy has continued to grow in size as more truckers and supporters join the seemingly-endless train of vehicles as it travels. A number of reports have indicated the convoy is now greater than 70 kilometres in length, featuring thousands of truck drivers and supporters. 

It is anticipated that the total number of truckers arriving in Ottawa from all directions on Saturday will be in the tens of thousands, with hundreds of thousands more who intend to show up in support of the protest.

A Go Fund Me page for the cause has now raised more than $5,600,000 at the time of writing to help with food, lodgings and fuel for the truckers. The page states that "any left over donations will be donated to a credible Veterans organization which will be chosen by the donors."

A growing number of Conservative MPs have spoken out in support of the protest as it heads toward the nations capital, including Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, Candice Bergen and Andrew Scheer.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has repeatedly dodged questions about whether he supports the convoy and whether he will meet with truckers once they arrive in Ottawa.

Son of the former U.S. president, Donald Trump Jr. also praised the Truckers for Freedom convoy, calling the movement "a genius idea."

“When we push back against the insanity, we can win, and that’s how this all ends,” said Trump in a Facebook video on Tuesday. He said the government response to COVID-19 in Canada is “absolutely insane.”

Countless legacy media journalists and left-leaning politicians, such as Global News' Mercedes Stephenson and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, have attempted to discredit the Truckers for Freedom convoy, labelling the movement "far-right" or "terrorist." Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh claimed the campaign espouses "extremist and dangerous views".

Dakota Christensen

Journalist

Dakota “Dax” Christensen is a writer, editor and reporter for Rebel News. With a love for liberty and a heart for the people, Dakota takes great pleasure in helping bring you the other side of the story.

https://twitter.com/dax_christensen

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