Truckers are protesting a rule that took effect January 15, which requires truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood firm on Wednesday against the easing of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions, using trucks to cross the capital and the US border amid mounting pressure from demonstrators, as an economic spurt for Detroit. including important bridges from
A growing number of Canadian provinces have moved to lift some of their precautions as Omicron growth levels have leveled off, but Mr Trudeau has defended the measures the federal government is responsible for, including killing many truck drivers. Has been angered: A rule that took effect on January 15 requires truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.
Mr Trudeau in parliament in Ottawa said: “The reality is that there is a vaccine mandate, and the fact that about 90% of Canadians have stepped up to vaccinate ensures that this pandemic in Canada hits as much as anywhere else in the world.” Don’t be.” ,
The country has been engulfed in recent weeks by protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Mr Trudeau himself.
The blockade, mostly by people in pickup trucks, entered its third day on the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Traffic was barred from entering Canada while some US-bound traffic was still operating.
The bridge carries 25% of all trade between Canada and the US, and Canadian lawmakers expressed growing concern about the economic impacts.
“They’re essentially putting their foot on the throats of all Canadians,” said Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair. “They are cutting off essential supply lines.” Also, protesters have been blocking border crossings in Coutts, Alberta for a week and a half, with about 50 trucks remaining on Wednesday. And in a protest that began late last month, more than 400 trucks have paralyzed the Canadian capital city of Ottawa.
While protesters are calling for Mr Trudeau to be removed, most of the restrictive measures across the country have been put in place by provincial governments. They include requirements that people show a “passport” proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and sporting events.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Prince Edward Island announced plans this week to roll back some or all of their precautions, with Canada’s most conservative province, Alberta, giving up its vaccine passports immediately and getting rid of masks at the end of the month. For.
Alberta’s opposition leader Rachel Notley accused Alberta Premier Jason Kenney of allowing an “illegal blockade to guide public health measures”. Despite Alberta’s plans to rescind public health measures, protests there continued.
“We have the people here – they have lost everything because of these mandates and they are not giving up, and they are ready to stand their ground and continue until that happens,” said protester John Vanriuvi, a Feedlot operator from Coldale, Alberta.
He added: “We don’t move until Trudeau moves,” Ambassador for the blockade of Bridge, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said police did not remove people for fear of provoking the situation and creating a major protest. But he added: “We ‘won’t let this happen for long.’ Police said 50 to 74 vehicles and about 100 protesters were involved in the demonstration. According to the mayor, some protesters say they are willing to die for their cause.
Dilkens said, “I’ll be completely honest: You’re trying to have a rational conversation, and not everyone on the ground is a rational actor.” “Police is doing the right thing by adopting a liberal approach, trying to act intelligently.” This situation where everyone can walk away, nobody gets hurt, and the bridge can open.” At a news conference in Ottawa, which excluded mainstream news organizations, one of the protest organizers, Benjamin Deitcher Said: “I think the government and the media are undermining the resolve and patience of the truck drivers.” “Leave the mandate. Leave the passport,” he said.
The “Freedom Truck Convoy” has been promoted by Fox News personalities and has drawn support from several US Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who called Mr Trudeau a “far leftist” who has “destroyed Canada with a crazy COVID mandate”. done.” Pandemic restrictions are far stricter in Canada than in the US, but Canadians have largely supported them. Canada’s COVID-19 death rate is one-third that of the US
About 90% of truck drivers in Canada are vaccinated, and trucker unions and many big-rig operators have condemned the protest. The US has a single vaccination rule for truck drivers entering the country, so it would make little difference if Trudeau lifted the ban.
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen told parliament that countries around the world were lifting restrictions and added that Canadian provinces are too. He accused Trudeau of wanting to live in a “permanent pandemic”. “Many of the reasons previously put Canadians under sanctions are disappearing before our eyes,” she said. “The Prime Minister should keep his ego aside. He should do what is right for the country. He needs to finish the mandate. He needs to end the sanctions. Canada’s largest province, Ontario, with about 40% of the country’s population, says a “very cautious” approach to the pandemic, and the deputy premier said it has no plans to drop vaccine passport or mask requirements.
Garrett Buchanan drove 10 hours from High Prairie in northern Alberta to join the protest and said he was staying until his demands were met.
“Yeah – until the mandate ends, and if they can work on getting (Trudeau) out, I’ll be there for that even longer,” he said.
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