Truckers on their way to Ottawa to demonstrate against sanitary measures have received a profusion of encouragement, while hundreds of citizens have offered their support along the roadsides, on the various routes of the convoys traveled so far.
• Read also: Tanned truckers from here disassociate themselves from the movement
• Read also: A Trumpist-looking convoy
• Read also: Arrival of the convoy of truckers: Ottawa prepares for the siege
The first hours of travel by the “Freedom Convoy” took place without giving motorists too many headaches on the various major arteries in the south of the province and in Montreal.
“There is no major congestion related to convoys. However, there is one on Highway 20 in St-Eulalie and Drummondville, then another on Highway 10, ”commented traffic columnist Patrick Benoît from the Salut Bonjour program a few minutes ago.
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
This morning, dozens of truckers had met at border crossings and then headed slowly together towards Ottawa, at a speed of around 70 km/h.
They will demonstrate tomorrow in front of parliament to make their demands heard, in particular their fed up with health restrictions and their dissatisfaction with the vaccination obligation for truckers.
Note that around 90% of those who practice the profession would be vaccinated, reported this week Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
- Listen to Benoit Dutrizac’s interview with Claude Bonin, owner of Le Moulin de Provence restaurant in Ottawa and with Listen to Benoit Dutrizac’s interview with agent Renée-Anne St-Amant on QUB radio:
On the viaducts
Although many of their colleagues deplore that the conspiracy movement uses their profession to make itself heard, it must be admitted that support for the convoys was significant on Friday morning.
Whether assigned to the starting point of Stanstead, St-Bernard-de-Lacolle or Saint-Liboire, photojournalists from the Journal noted on the spot “never seen” gatherings of citizens who came to encourage the initiative on the viaducts of the route. and along highways.
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
Mobilization of truckers across Quebec
Some even admitted to having had more supporters, on foot or in cars, than participating truckers.
Many videos and photos have also circulated on social networks to prove it. We see people waving the flags of Canada and Quebec. We even see that children were playing in the snow not far from the road.
Potential danger
“We can’t prevent people from offering and bringing their support to the convoys that we are seeing at the moment. It is certain that we ask people who do it to do it in places that are safe to be vigilant precisely to the potential dangers of ending up at the edge of the road,” explains Marythée Bolduc, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Quebec.
Other than warnings to keep away from the side of the road, there have been no arrests at this time. However, tickets were issued to supporters stationed on overpasses, it was observed.
Photo QMI Agency, Marc Vallières
The various convoys are to meet in Vaudreuil-Dorion this afternoon. Then, they will cross the lines of Ontario to sleep in Vankleek Hill. Their arrival in Ottawa is scheduled for noon tomorrow.
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
Moreover, the initiative of Canadian truckers has resonated around the world over the past few days.
- Listen to the interview with Mario Berniqué, retired captain of the Sûreté du Québec, specialist in crowd movements
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
Yesterday, the co-founder of Tesla electric cars, Elon Musk, launched some Tweets in support of the convoy of Canadian truckers to his 71.8 million followers.
« Canadian truckers rule [Les camionneurs canadiens dominent] “, he tweeted, among other things.
Photo QMI Agency, René Leclerc
