The 'Freedom Convoy' of truckers that has descended on the Canadian capital has slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the government's vaccine mandate, which they claim would only hurt their livelihoods and put them out of work for weeks.
The massive cavalcade of trucks, pickups, and other vehicles has been wreaking havoc on downtown Ottawa since last weekend after deliberately blocking traffic and honking their horns almost non-stop around Parliament Hill.
Surrounding businesses and restaurants have been forced to shut down in the past few days due to the lack of access, and officials are now considering calling in the military to put an end to the disruption.
But truckers have remained defiant even as the protests entered their sixth day Thursday, vowing to stay put until Trudeau's government flips and withdraws its policy on vaccine mandates.
The protesters, many of whom have been hauling cargo on long-distance routes between Canada and the United States for decades, are not out to make a political statement - they are simply out to make a living.
Long-haul truck driver Guy Meister is among those who joined the convoy last week after making a 20-hour journey in his big rig from Nova Scotia.
The 56-year-old, who has been at the protest since its inception, revealed he is committed to sticking it out as he does not have to return to work until May.
Long-haul truck driver Guy Meister (pictured) is among the truckers who joined the 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa last week after making a 20-hour journey in his big rig from Nova Scotia, and plans to keep protesting until the mandates are scrapped
The massive cavalcade of trucks, pickups, and other vehicles has been wreaking havoc on downtown Ottawa since last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic and honking their horns almost non-stop around Parliament Hill
Pick-up trucks and other smaller vehicles have joined the rally, displaying flags and picket signs reading: 'Freedom' and 'No mandates'
Some participants were seen driving around downtown Ottawa with flags reading: 'F**k Trudeau' and 'Vaxx pass up your a**!'
Crowds gather outside the Parliament building on Thursday. More protestors are expected to descend upon Ottawa this weekend, several area hotels and restaurants have closed for the next week in anticipation of further protests
'I'm in it for the long haul,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Trudeau has got to go.'
Meister, who has been driving a truck since he was 19, said he believes the government mandate is ineffective and that the policy will only hurt him and his fellow truckers.
He explained that if he were to bring in a truckload to the United States and return to Canada, under the current mandate, he would have to quarantine and be unable to work for 14 days, which would bankrupt him and others.
'When I take a load into the US, I come in direct contact with very few people, if anyone,' Meister said.
'I back my load into the dock, they unload it, and a person puts the paperwork into my cab, all without any direct contact. It doesn't make any sense.'
Meister said he has no plans to get vaccinated, at least not now, and would rather wait until more is known about the vaccine's long-term effects.
'When they change the model year of a vehicle, it takes two or three years to get it right. So why would you do it (get vaccinated) right off the bat when you don't know all the bad and good of it?' he added.
Raising both of his hands, he also issued a message to the prime minister: 'Trudeau, these are working hands.
'You don't know what it's like to have working hands. I work for all the people in our country, you don't. You have to go.'
On Thursday, Tamara Lich, one of the protest organizers, released a statement saying the convoy has no 'intent to stay one day longer than necessary' and that their departure will be based on 'the prime minister doing what is right'.
'Our movement is growing in Canada and across the world because common people are tired of the mandates and restrictions in their lives that now seem to be doing more harm than good,' she said.
Truckers have remained defiant even as the protests entered their sixth day Thursday, vowing to stay put until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government flips and withdraws its policy on vaccine mandates
Protestors could be seen carrying copies of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, while others drove around in cars bearing signs carried signs reading 'no more lockdown' and 'we are here for our freedom'
Protests began in Ottawa last month on January 23 and at the US-Canada border in Alberta on Saturday and are still going strong
Police units were seen standing by Thursday, with several groups of about six cops each walking around and observing the situation
The protests began in Ottawa on January 23 and at the US-Canada border in Alberta on Saturday and are still going strong, despite warnings from Royal Canadian Mounted Police and threats of military intervention.
The demonstrations have drawn criticism from officials, including Ottawa's mayor who said residents were 'prisoners in their own home.'
Meister, however, said he isn't worried about any military action by the government and claimed that while the noise is bothersome, most residents in the area don't mind it because they understand the cause.
'We aren't worried about any military involvement, we are peaceful. We won't fight, we don't need to fight. There is no violence,' he said.
'There are Americans out there in the protest, if they bring in the military it will be an act of war.
'Plus, from what I've heard several of the old troops that have been kicked because they won't get vaccinated are coming tomorrow in support of us.'
While the protests have so far been peaceful, they have been undoubtedly noisy. When DailyMail.com traveled to the scene Thursday afternoon, there was a constant blowing of the horns to almost a deafening tone every hour on the hour.
While the protests have so far been peaceful, they have been undoubtedly noisy. When DailyMail.com traveled to the scene Thursday afternoon, there was a constant blowing of the horns to almost a deafening tone every hour on the hour
Protesters have railed against the government mandates which they believe are ineffective and an infringement of personal freedom
A crowd of hundreds, if not thousands of people, including families with young children and everyday Canadians also turned up at the site to show their support with picket signs
Other vehicles, and even pieces of furniture, have been painted with peace symbols and messages calling for 'freedom' around the downtown area
Protesters have left signs outside the Parliament building and are also calling for the removal of Trudeau's government, though it is responsible for few of the measures, most of which were put in place by provincial governments
Truckers have hung signs and banners from their big rigs showing their support for the 'freedom convoy', with some bearing flags reading: 'F**k Trudeau' and 'Vaxx pass up your a**!'
The convoy of trucks has attracted support from conservative Americans on the other side of the border, including President Donald Trump, as well as other fellow Canadians.
On Thursday night, a crowd of hundreds, if not thousands of people, including families with young children and everyday Canadians also turned up at the site to show their support.
The scene felt more like a party atmosphere, with supporters gathering around makeshift fire pits in the middle of the street made out of empty 55-gallon drums.
There was a large police presence nearby, with several groups of about six cops each walking around and observing the situation.
Protester Rana Black revealed she joined the demonstration after traveling to the capital from the northeastern province of Newfoundland.
'I joined the convoy to come to Ottawa last week. The trip took five days,' she told DailyMail.com.
Black is a homemaker and has no ties to the truck driving industry but said she came out to protest to show solidarity with the truckers.
Truckers from all over Canada made the journey to Ottawa last weekend, deliberately blocking traffic and honking their horns almost non-stop around Parliament Hill
The mandates have particularly outraged truck drivers, who argue their jobs require very little contact with other individuals
'The mandates don't work. Our country has been closed for the better part of two years. And we are no better off, how much more can we take?'
'Prime Minister Trudeau is an evil, narcissists of a man. He's not fit to run our country; he was a part-time drama coach before he became our leader.
'He's made our country more divisive. For the first time in my life, I'm afraid of our government.'
More protestors are expected to descend upon Ottawa this weekend, several area hotels and restaurants have closed for the next week in anticipation of further protests. A protest has been planned in the provincial capital of Toronto on Saturday.
On Thursday Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a military response to the ongoing protests is 'not in the cards right now.'
The PM's comments came after Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly said this week that all options are on the table, including calling in the military.
Trudeau said one must be 'very, very cautious' about deploying troops on Canadian soil, adding there has been no such request to the federal government. He said any formal requests for assistance from the City of Ottawa or Ontario will be considered.
Post a Comment