In Canada, hundreds of truckers opposed to the vaccination obligation set off on Sunday, leaving from Vancouver, to drive to Ottawa. The arrival is scheduled for Friday 28. There, they must find the ” convoy for freedom “, a gathering of demonstrators opposed to health measures. Their journey, which they wanted to be as slow as possible, to slow down the traffic, is not without pitfalls.
A movement that wants to be united
Their objective: to push back the government concerning the vaccination obligation required to cross the border. However, the participants do not stop there, and want the vaccination obligation to be lifted for all trades : « Let’s get everyone back to work and end this divisive and discriminatory rhetoric a trucker told the Vancouver Sun.
This solidarity is reminiscent of the movement of dockers in Trieste, Italy, who protested strongly last October. Again, the protest seems to be well received by Canadians.
Read also: The dockers of Trieste against the “Green Pass”: the vanguard of a revolt in Italy?
In an article from the Journal de Montreal, we also read that some elected Conservatives have publicly shown their support “. Among them, politician Andrew Scheer, who attacked Justin Trudeau’s politics on Twitter by congratulating truckers: Thank you truckers! Trudeau is attacking individual freedom and threatening everyone’s ability to shop for groceries because of his one-upmanship in vaccination mandates. He is the greatest threat to freedom in Canada “, he wrote.
In France too, the movement has a certain echo on social networks:
In Canada, the truckers who converge by the thousands on Ottawa against the vaccination obligation are welcomed as heroes!
Something very powerful is happening!
French truckers you will have the same welcome! pic.twitter.com/o3VY1ogt3u— Florian Philippot (@f_philippot) January 25, 2022
Fundraising blocked, government clogged
Opposite, federal ministers added their voice to the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CCA), Stephen Laskowski. Together, they assert that vaccination, combined with preventive public health measures, is the most effective tool to reduce the risk posed to Canadians by COVID-19 and to protect public health », thus opposing the protest movement.
In addition, the fundraiser, launched by Tamara Lich on January 14, was frozen by the GoFundMe platform. A decision that is not insignificant when we know that the amount collected amounted to 4.5 million dollars, in just ten days, and that the demands of the movement relate to vaccination. Officially, the platform assured that “ donations will be held securely until the organizer is able to provide our team with documentation of how the funds will be properly distributed ».
The draconian rules applied in Canada
If the truckers are driving against the vaccination obligation at the border, which has been in force since January 15, this is not the only measure which is causing tension in the country. Justin Trudeau seems to be pursuing a policy similar to that of Emmanuel Macron, namely putting pressure on the unvaccinated. Only he still has a little head start.
The vaccination pass is required for those over 13 years old. In addition, since January 18, sesame is required to access the sale of alcohol and cannabis. Finally, and this since last Monday, large areas of more than 1,500 square meters are also closed to non-vaccinated people. In the “Shops” category, we read on the Quebec government website that the places that are not affected by the vaccination pass are: sales ” retail food outlets, pharmacies, mall common areas, and gas stations. »
We also learn that if a non-vaccinated person wants to access a pharmacy located in a center of more than 1,500 m², he “ must be accompanied at all times, when traveling, by an employee of this business and may not purchase products other than those related to the pharmaceutical service. »
Of all its restrictions, some Canadians ignore them by using false documents. Still on the Journal de Montréal, which has carried out its investigation, we learn that the trick is a ” disconcerting simplicity », but also that it is hunted down by journalists and communicated to the authorities. Since then, the government has planned to tighten controls ».