Musk tweets in support of Canadian trucker protest

Elon Musk tweeted in favour of Canadian truckers heading to Ottawa to protest COVID restrictions and vaccine mandates.

The Tesla and Spacex CEO appeared to be throwing his support behind the protesters in a tweet Thursday afternoon. “Canadian truckers rule,” said Musk, who was born to a Canadian mother. He holds U.S., Canada and South Africa citizenship.

A convoy of truckers and others opposed to public health restrictions is on its way from British Columbia in the west and Newfoundland and Labrador in the east to Parliament Hill for a “freedom rally” this weekend against mandatory vaccinations. Police in Ottawa have said they are planning for as many as 2,000 protesters.

The federal government ended truckers’ exemption to the vaccine mandate on Jan. 15, meaning Canadian truck drivers need to be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine when they cross into Canada from the United States.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the protesters a “small fringe minority who are on the way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views.”

In later tweets, Musk appears to show support for repealing mandates. He sent a thumbs-up emoji to a tweet alleging Denmark is planning to “stop all measures Jan. 31,” in reference to vaccinations. In another he sent a supportive ‘100’ emoji to a doctor who wrote that he was in favour of COVID vaccines but not mandates.

Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly told a police services board meeting Wednesday that officers had been in contact with protest leaders, whom he said have been co-operative and have shared their plans. However, concerns have also been raised that far-right extremist groups have attached themselves to the convoy and could spark violence.