Canada moves to crack down on anti-vax truck protests
POLICE in Canada have pledged to crack down on an “increasingly dangerous” protest as hundreds of truckers yesterday descended on the centre of Ottowa to demand an end to Covid vaccine mandates.
Cities across Canada, including the financial hub Toronto, are bracing for further disruptions today as “Freedom Convoy” demonstrations spread.
The blockade, which has continued for over a week, was described by Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly as “unprecedented” in Canada.
Some participants have waved Confederate or Nazi flags and some say they want to dissolve the government.
GoFundMe on Friday took down the Freedom Convoy’s donation page – which had raised more than £6 million
‘If anyone is planning to come here for a protest that is not peaceful and respectful, please stay home’
– saying it violated its terms of service. The Tesla CEO Elon Musk cited “double standards” after the website supported a 2020 fundraiser for the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest in Seattle.
Police in Ottawa said they were expecting up to 2,000 protesters as well as 1,000 counter-protesters. Similar protests are planned for Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg.
Toronto Police said they would have an increased presence over the weekend. On Friday, officers closed a major downtown avenue, which is home to several hospitals, fearing protesters would impede access.
“If anyone is planning to come here for a protest that is not peaceful and not respectful I would urge you to please stay home,” Toronto mayor John Tory said. Protest vehicles also arrived in Quebec City, where unvaccinated shoppers in large stores must be accompanied by staff “at all times” and are only allowed to buy products from the pharmacy counter.