A large convoy of trucks and pick-up cars descended in Canada’s capital Ottawa from across the country on the weekend. Christened as “Freedom Convoy 2022”, they congregated at Parliament Hill, the ground zero of protests, to protest against the vaccine mandate imposed by the government of PM Justin Trudeau. The protests have rekindled the debate around mandatory vaccinations and associated restrictions in North America and the impact it has caused (and can cause) to small businesses as well as supply chains of essential goods and services in the region. Here’s an explainer in the chronological order as to why the truckers and the general working-class people are protesting:
1. Notified on 19th November and implemented on 15th January, Canada’s Federal (central) government, in coordination with the U.S. government, made it mandatory for essential workers (truckers and others in transport business) to be vaccinated to cross the national borders. For truckers who are unvaccinated, they must meet the requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 testing up and above the quarantine requirements, as per official notification.
2. In an official statement on its Facebook page, “Freedom Convoy 2022” said that “a small team of Alberta truckers…come to the decision that the Government of Canada has crossed a line with implementing Covid-19 vaccine passports and vaccine mandates…we have now the support of millions of Canadians from across the country.” They further claim that the number of trucks participating in the convoy have ballooned to 36000 and that the total number of trucks heading to Ottawa heading to Ottawa was close to 50,000.
Also read| US Capitol Attack: Donald Trump promises to pardon if he wins 2024 presidential elections
3. The demand is to end all the vaccine mandates and “surveillance tracking software” which is an infringement on their basic freedoms. They also said that the mandates will disrupt the supply-chains carrying essential goods and services which will impede economic recovery and worsen inflation in the face of labour shortages. They further said that any statement claiming that they are “separatists” or “terrorists” or right-wing extremists will be interpreted as an attempt to malign their genuine demands.
4. “The small fringe minority of people who are on the way to Ottawa, or who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing, do not represent the views of Canadians…We know the way through this pandemic is by getting everyone vaccinated – and the overwhelming majority, close to 90 percent of Canadians, have done exactly that,” Trudeau said in a statement last week. “I am concerned by extremist elements that are spreading misinformation and attempting to turn the convoy into a Canadian version of the terrorist attacks on the US Capitol,” said local politician Jagmeet Singh of the NDP. There were leaders who supported the movement. “The thousands of people coming here in the next few days – the trucker convoy – is a symbol of the fatigue in our country right now,” Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole said. Another Conservative Party leader and MP Michael Cooper came out in support of the movement. He was seen providing refreshments to the protestors. PM Trudeau and his family were reportedly taken to a secret location as the protests swelled in size, as per a report by CBC.
Also read| N.Korea confirms test-firing of intermediate-range ballistic missile
5. The protestors have also set up a GoFundMe page which has raised around USD 5.4 million, as per media updates. GoFundMe said in a statement last week that they were freezing the money till they ascertain that the funds will not be used in activities which can cause/promote/initiate unrest or violence.
6. Prominent personalities have come out in support of the protestors. Billionaire CEO Elon Musk cheered the movement, tweeting “Canadian truckers rule.” Famous podcaster Joe Rogan and comedian-actor Russell Brand also came out in support of the movement. However, a major lorry union named Canadian Trucking Alliance has criticised the movement. They claim that 85-90 percent of the truckers are vaccinated and those gathered in Ottawa have nothing to do with industry whatsoever.
7. On 23rd January, anti-vaccine mandate protests also took place in the U.S. capital Washington D.C. in which thousands marched against President Biden’s vaccine policies.
