Sat, 5 February 2022
Protests by truckers and their supporters against Covid-19 vaccine mandates are continuing in Ottawa, Canada (AFP/Dave Chan) (Dave Chan)
Protesters again poured into Canada's capital early Saturday to join a convoy of truckers whose occupation of Ottawa to denounce Covid vaccine mandates is now in its second week.
Individuals and families huddled around campfires in bone-chilling weather and erected bouncy castles for children outside Parliament, while waving Canadian flags and anti-government placards.
Police, who were out in force and erected barriers overnight to limit vehicle access to the city center, said they were expecting up to 2,000 protesters -- as well as 1,000 counterprotesters -- to join hundreds of truckers already clogging Ottawa streets.
But organizers of the so-called "Freedom Convoy" told AFP they expected their numbers to swell into the tens of thousands.
Similar protests were planned for Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg.
The atmosphere early Saturday appeared more festive than a week earlier, when some protesters waved Confederate flags and Nazi symbols -- which were condemned by government officials -- and clashed with locals.
Police have vowed to end the "unlawful" occupation as soon as possible.
But on Saturday, there were signs the protesters were digging in. They had erected a wooden shed and tents to house food supplies for demonstrators and fuel for the big rigs.
One woman offered passersby hand-warmers as temperatures were forecast to plunge to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit).
Kimberly Ball and her husband had driven five hours from a small town west of Toronto to join the demonstration.
"It's not about whether you get the vaccine or not," she insisted. "It's about our freedom."
Holding back tears, she added: "It's really, really tough. A couple of people we know, friends, also lost their jobs because of these mandates."
Ball has had Covid-19 and said she is not convinced the vaccines are safe and effective.
She is, however, in the minority in Canada, where 90 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
The Freedom Convoy started on Canada's Pacific coast in late January and picked up supporters along the trek to the capital. The protest has drawn more than 10 million Canadian dollars ($8 million) in online donations.
The number of protesters in Ottawa had peaked at several thousand last Saturday, according to officials, before dwindling to a few hundred by midweek.
This weekend Ottawa police worked to contain the protests to the parliamentary precinct, after widespread complaints of harassment, threats and sleeplessness caused by incessant honking.
amc/bbk/mlm
Canada protests against Covid measures gain steam
Michel COMTE
Sat, 5 February 2022
Truckers packed the streets of Ottawa this week to protest vaccine
Michel COMTE
Sat, 5 February 2022
Truckers packed the streets of Ottawa this week to protest vaccine
mandates for crossborder travel between Canada and the United States
(AFP/Dave Chan)
Truckers and supporters opposing Covid-19 vaccine mandates again poured into Ottawa, Canada on February 5, 2022, as the protest entered a second week and spread to other cities
Truckers and supporters opposing Covid-19 vaccine mandates again poured into Ottawa, Canada on February 5, 2022, as the protest entered a second week and spread to other cities
(AFP/Dave Chan)
A demonstrator carries a jerry can of gasoline to a waiting truck in downtown Ottawa, Canada during a February 5, 2022 protest against Covid-19 restrictions; truckers appear to be preparing for a long stay (AFP/Dave Chan)
Signs opposing Covid-19 restrictions covered an area of Ottawa's Parliament Hill (AFP/Dave Chan)
An occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates gained steam as it entered its second week on Saturday, with more demonstrators piling onto the clogged streets of Ottawa, while protests kicked off in several other cities.
In the capital, protesters huddled around campfires in bone-chilling temperatures and erected bouncy castles for kids outside Parliament, while waving Canadian flags and shouting anti-government slogans.
The atmosphere appeared more festive than a week earlier, when several protesters waved Confederate flags and Nazi symbols and clashed with locals.
Police, who were out in force and put up barriers overnight to limit vehicle access to the city center, said they were bracing for up to 2,000 protesters -- as well as 1,000 counterprotesters -- to join hundreds of truckers already jamming Ottawa streets.
But organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy told AFP they expected their numbers to swell into the tens of thousands.
Similar protests were happening in Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg. And in southern Alberta province, truckers blocked a major border crossing to the US state of Montana.
"This remains an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration," Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly told a news conference Friday.
With public anger rising -- thousands of residents have complained of harassment by protesters, and an online petition demanding action has drawn 40,000 signatures -- Sloly vowed to crack down on what he called an "unlawful" occupation of the city.
But he offered no timeline.
- No end in sight -
Reached for comment by AFP, protest coordinator Jim Torma said the protesters would not back down.
"They're not going to hide us," Torma said. "We're going to be in (politicians') faces as long as it takes" to force an end to public health restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
Kimberly Ball, who with her husband drove five hours from a small town west of Toronto to join the Ottawa protest, told AFP, "It's about our freedom."
Holding back tears, she said, "A couple of people we know, friends, also lost their jobs because of these (vaccine) mandates."
Ball has had Covid and said she questions whether the vaccines are safe and effective.
She is, however, in the minority in Canada, where 90 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
- A 'fringe minority'? -
The Freedom Convoy started on Canada's Pacific coast in late January and picked up supporters along the long trek to the capital -- as well as more than 10 million Canadian dollars ($8 million) in online donations.
The number of protesters in Ottawa had peaked last Saturday at several thousand before dwindling to a few hundred by midweek, officials said.
The protest has received support from tech magnate Elon Musk and former US president Donald Trump, who in a statement Friday called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far left lunatic."
The Canadian prime minister has said the protesters represent only a "fringe minority," though polls show one-third of Canadians support the call to lift all Covid restrictions.
The leaders of two Western provinces, Jason Kenney of Alberta and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan have added their voices to the anti-mandate push.
"There are many jurisdictions around the world that have adopted more common-sense travel protocols than we have now in place in Canada," Kenney said Friday.
Moe, meanwhile, announced an imminent lifting of all pandemic restrictions in Saskatchewan, despite pushback from doctors.
Vaccine mandates and most other Covid measures are the responsibility of provincial authorities in Canada.
"What's necessary is your freedom," Moe said in a video address. "What's necessary is getting your life back to normal."
Ottawa residents, however, are fed up with the chaos the protests have brought to their streets.
On Friday, a class action was launched against the truckers on behalf of residents who said they had been heckled, yelled at to remove their masks and intimidated by honking that measured ear-popping decibels and made sleep near-impossible.
"The Class Members are living in daily torment," reads the court filing, which seeks Can$9.8 million (US$7.7 million) in damages.
Late Friday, GoFundMe removed a Freedom Convoy fundraiser from its website after receiving evidence from law enforcement that the demonstration "has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity."
amc/bbk
A demonstrator carries a jerry can of gasoline to a waiting truck in downtown Ottawa, Canada during a February 5, 2022 protest against Covid-19 restrictions; truckers appear to be preparing for a long stay (AFP/Dave Chan)
Signs opposing Covid-19 restrictions covered an area of Ottawa's Parliament Hill (AFP/Dave Chan)
An occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates gained steam as it entered its second week on Saturday, with more demonstrators piling onto the clogged streets of Ottawa, while protests kicked off in several other cities.
In the capital, protesters huddled around campfires in bone-chilling temperatures and erected bouncy castles for kids outside Parliament, while waving Canadian flags and shouting anti-government slogans.
The atmosphere appeared more festive than a week earlier, when several protesters waved Confederate flags and Nazi symbols and clashed with locals.
Police, who were out in force and put up barriers overnight to limit vehicle access to the city center, said they were bracing for up to 2,000 protesters -- as well as 1,000 counterprotesters -- to join hundreds of truckers already jamming Ottawa streets.
But organizers of the so-called Freedom Convoy told AFP they expected their numbers to swell into the tens of thousands.
Similar protests were happening in Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg. And in southern Alberta province, truckers blocked a major border crossing to the US state of Montana.
"This remains an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration," Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly told a news conference Friday.
With public anger rising -- thousands of residents have complained of harassment by protesters, and an online petition demanding action has drawn 40,000 signatures -- Sloly vowed to crack down on what he called an "unlawful" occupation of the city.
But he offered no timeline.
- No end in sight -
Reached for comment by AFP, protest coordinator Jim Torma said the protesters would not back down.
"They're not going to hide us," Torma said. "We're going to be in (politicians') faces as long as it takes" to force an end to public health restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
Kimberly Ball, who with her husband drove five hours from a small town west of Toronto to join the Ottawa protest, told AFP, "It's about our freedom."
Holding back tears, she said, "A couple of people we know, friends, also lost their jobs because of these (vaccine) mandates."
Ball has had Covid and said she questions whether the vaccines are safe and effective.
She is, however, in the minority in Canada, where 90 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
- A 'fringe minority'? -
The Freedom Convoy started on Canada's Pacific coast in late January and picked up supporters along the long trek to the capital -- as well as more than 10 million Canadian dollars ($8 million) in online donations.
The number of protesters in Ottawa had peaked last Saturday at several thousand before dwindling to a few hundred by midweek, officials said.
The protest has received support from tech magnate Elon Musk and former US president Donald Trump, who in a statement Friday called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a "far left lunatic."
The Canadian prime minister has said the protesters represent only a "fringe minority," though polls show one-third of Canadians support the call to lift all Covid restrictions.
The leaders of two Western provinces, Jason Kenney of Alberta and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan have added their voices to the anti-mandate push.
"There are many jurisdictions around the world that have adopted more common-sense travel protocols than we have now in place in Canada," Kenney said Friday.
Moe, meanwhile, announced an imminent lifting of all pandemic restrictions in Saskatchewan, despite pushback from doctors.
Vaccine mandates and most other Covid measures are the responsibility of provincial authorities in Canada.
"What's necessary is your freedom," Moe said in a video address. "What's necessary is getting your life back to normal."
Ottawa residents, however, are fed up with the chaos the protests have brought to their streets.
On Friday, a class action was launched against the truckers on behalf of residents who said they had been heckled, yelled at to remove their masks and intimidated by honking that measured ear-popping decibels and made sleep near-impossible.
"The Class Members are living in daily torment," reads the court filing, which seeks Can$9.8 million (US$7.7 million) in damages.
Late Friday, GoFundMe removed a Freedom Convoy fundraiser from its website after receiving evidence from law enforcement that the demonstration "has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity."
amc/bbk
Canada protests against Covid measures set to ramp up
Michel COMTE
Fri, 4 February 2022
Michel COMTE
Fri, 4 February 2022
Truckers packed the streets of Ottawa this week to protest vaccine mandates for crossborder travel between Canada and the United States
(AFP/Dave Chan)
A week-long occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates was set to ramp up Saturday with thousands of demonstrators expected to pile into Ottawa while other cities also braced for protests.
Police said they were expecting up to 2,000 protesters as well as 1,000 counter-protesters to join the hundreds already parked in front of parliament, but organizers said tens of thousands were headed to Ottawa.
Similar protests are also planned for Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg.
"This remains... an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration," Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly told a news conference Friday.
Following thousands of complaints from local residents of threats and harassment by protesters who have made even sleep difficult with incessant honking, and an online petition signed by 40,000 demanding action, Sloly vowed to crack down on what he called an "unlawful" protest.
But he did not offer a timeline.
Reached for comment by AFP, protest coordinator Jim Torma said on behalf of organizers that the protesters would not back down.
"They're not going to hide us," Torma said. "We're going to be in (politicians') faces as long as it takes" to force an end to public health restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
With tensions already high and counter-protesters expected to now converge on the city, however, "the prospects for confrontation remain high," warned federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
- Trump backs 'Freedom Convoy' -
The so-called Freedom Convoy started on Canada's Pacific coast in late January and picked up supporters along its 4,400-kilometer (2,700 miles) trek to the capital, as well as more than 10 million Canadian dollars ($8 million) in online donations.
However, the online fundraising platform GoFundMe said Friday that it had removed the Freedom Convoy fundraiser from its site after receiving evidence from law enforcement that the demonstration "has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity."
The number of protesters in Ottawa had peaked at several thousand last Saturday, according to officials, before dwindling to a few hundred by midweek.
Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk have both tweeted support for the truckers.
On Friday, former US president Donald Trump encouraged them too, saying in a statement that the "harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau... has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates."
A recent Abacus poll showed 32 percent of Canadians supported the protesters, although only 10 percent of Canadian adults are unvaccinated.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is isolating after contracting Covid, has refused to meet with the truckers, as others stepped up criticisms of the protesters, accusing them of racism and even terrorism -- labels organizers reject.
This weekend, bridges and roadways into Ottawa will be blocked, with protesters asked to park in lots on the outskirts and walk or use city transit to downtown.
In Toronto, Mayor John Tory said officials were doing "everything we can to avoid the situation that we're seeing in Ottawa."
Toronto police started closing off streets late Friday and installing CCTV cameras to help keep an eye on the planned demonstrations.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, urged the truckers in Ottawa to go home, echoing the protesters' dislike of pandemic restrictions but insisting they are "necessary" to keep the population safe.
"It's not a protest anymore," he told a joint news conference with Canada's 12 other provincial and territorial leaders. "It's become an occupation that is not only hurting families, it's hurting businesses."
- Saskatchewan lifting restrictions -
Premier Jason Kenney of Alberta -- where protesters blocked a border crossing into the US state of Montana -- urged the federal government to start easing travel restrictions and pre-flight Covid tests notably.
"There are many jurisdictions around the world that have adopted more common-sense travel protocols than we have now in place in Canada," he lamented.
Requiring people to wear face masks for indoor activities such as shopping, vaccine mandates and most other Covid measures are provincial responsibilities.
Saskatchewan province this week became the first jurisdiction in Canada to announce an imminent lifting of all those pandemic restrictions -- despite pushback from doctors.
"What's necessary is your freedom," Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in a video address. "What's necessary is getting your life back to normal."
amc/md/leg
A week-long occupation of Canada's capital by truckers opposed to vaccine mandates was set to ramp up Saturday with thousands of demonstrators expected to pile into Ottawa while other cities also braced for protests.
Police said they were expecting up to 2,000 protesters as well as 1,000 counter-protesters to join the hundreds already parked in front of parliament, but organizers said tens of thousands were headed to Ottawa.
Similar protests are also planned for Toronto, Quebec City and Winnipeg.
"This remains... an increasingly volatile and increasingly dangerous demonstration," Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly told a news conference Friday.
Following thousands of complaints from local residents of threats and harassment by protesters who have made even sleep difficult with incessant honking, and an online petition signed by 40,000 demanding action, Sloly vowed to crack down on what he called an "unlawful" protest.
But he did not offer a timeline.
Reached for comment by AFP, protest coordinator Jim Torma said on behalf of organizers that the protesters would not back down.
"They're not going to hide us," Torma said. "We're going to be in (politicians') faces as long as it takes" to force an end to public health restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.
With tensions already high and counter-protesters expected to now converge on the city, however, "the prospects for confrontation remain high," warned federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino.
- Trump backs 'Freedom Convoy' -
The so-called Freedom Convoy started on Canada's Pacific coast in late January and picked up supporters along its 4,400-kilometer (2,700 miles) trek to the capital, as well as more than 10 million Canadian dollars ($8 million) in online donations.
However, the online fundraising platform GoFundMe said Friday that it had removed the Freedom Convoy fundraiser from its site after receiving evidence from law enforcement that the demonstration "has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity."
The number of protesters in Ottawa had peaked at several thousand last Saturday, according to officials, before dwindling to a few hundred by midweek.
Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk have both tweeted support for the truckers.
On Friday, former US president Donald Trump encouraged them too, saying in a statement that the "harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau... has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates."
A recent Abacus poll showed 32 percent of Canadians supported the protesters, although only 10 percent of Canadian adults are unvaccinated.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is isolating after contracting Covid, has refused to meet with the truckers, as others stepped up criticisms of the protesters, accusing them of racism and even terrorism -- labels organizers reject.
This weekend, bridges and roadways into Ottawa will be blocked, with protesters asked to park in lots on the outskirts and walk or use city transit to downtown.
In Toronto, Mayor John Tory said officials were doing "everything we can to avoid the situation that we're seeing in Ottawa."
Toronto police started closing off streets late Friday and installing CCTV cameras to help keep an eye on the planned demonstrations.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, meanwhile, urged the truckers in Ottawa to go home, echoing the protesters' dislike of pandemic restrictions but insisting they are "necessary" to keep the population safe.
"It's not a protest anymore," he told a joint news conference with Canada's 12 other provincial and territorial leaders. "It's become an occupation that is not only hurting families, it's hurting businesses."
- Saskatchewan lifting restrictions -
Premier Jason Kenney of Alberta -- where protesters blocked a border crossing into the US state of Montana -- urged the federal government to start easing travel restrictions and pre-flight Covid tests notably.
"There are many jurisdictions around the world that have adopted more common-sense travel protocols than we have now in place in Canada," he lamented.
Requiring people to wear face masks for indoor activities such as shopping, vaccine mandates and most other Covid measures are provincial responsibilities.
Saskatchewan province this week became the first jurisdiction in Canada to announce an imminent lifting of all those pandemic restrictions -- despite pushback from doctors.
"What's necessary is your freedom," Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in a video address. "What's necessary is getting your life back to normal."
amc/md/leg
No comments:
Post a Comment