Canada convoy protest

This article is about the 2022 convoy protest known as the "Freedom Convoy". For the 2019 convoy protests, see Yellow vests protests § Canada. For the 1935 convoy protest to Ottawa, see On-to-Ottawa Trek.

Canada convoy protest
Part of COVID-19 protests in Canada
Protesters in front of Parliament Hill on February 12, 2022 (top); Vehicles lined up on Wellington Street January 28 (middle left); Supporters greet a truck on an overpass in Merritt, British Columbia (middle right); Protesters near the East Block of Parliament Hill (bottom)
DateJanuary 22 – February 23, 2022
(1 month and 1 day)
Location
Canada (spillover into the United States)
Caused byCOVID-19 pandemic in Canada, COVID-19 vaccination mandates in Canada[1]
GoalsAbolition of federal and provincial COVID-19 mandates in Canada
MethodsConvoy protest over major Canadian highways; demonstration at Parliament Hill
Resulted inNo concessions given; Emergencies Act invoked from February 17 to 23, 2022
Parties

Political support:

Lead figures
Number

Convoy: 551–1,155 vehicles,[5][6][7] including:

  • 121–230 trucks
  • 430–925 personal vehicles
Protests: Estimates of 3,000 to 18,000 people[a]
Unknown
Casualties, arrests and damages
Injuries6[b]
Arrested272[c]
Fined2,600+[24]
Economic lossEstimates of up to $6 billion[25][26]

A series of protests and blockades in Canada against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, called the Freedom Convoy (French: Convoi de la liberté) by organizers, began in early 2022. The initial convoy movement was created to protest against the vaccine mandates for crossing the United States border, but later evolved into a protest on COVID-19 mandates in general. Beginning on January 22, 2022, hundreds of vehicles formed convoys from several points and traversed Canadian provinces before converging on Ottawa on January 29, with a rally at Parliament Hill. The convoys were joined by thousands of pedestrian protesters. Several offshoot protests blockaded provincial capitals and border crossings with the United States.

In late 2021, both Canada and the US accommodated unvaccinated cross-border truckers by exempting them from COVID-19 vaccine requirements to prevent exacerbating existing supply chain disruptions. The exemptions in Canada ended on January 15, 2022, and the US exemption ended on January 22, 2022. Of the 120,000 Canadian licensed truck drivers who regularly serve cross-border routes, approximately 85 per cent were vaccinated against COVID-19 by January, leaving up to 16,000 Canadian truckers potentially affected by the restriction.

Protesters occupied the downtown core of Ottawa and stated that they would not leave until all COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, trucking related and beyond, were repealed. Officials expressed concern about the economic impact of border blockades. On February 11, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency, introducing new legal sanctions on the impediment of trade routes, highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden spoke on February 11 to discuss ending blockades at the border. On February 14, Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time since its passing in 1988.[d] Between February 17 and 20, a large joint-operation police presence in Ottawa arrested organizers and protesters, removed parked vehicles, and dismantled blockades from Ottawa streets. By February 21, most of the protesters had been cleared from Ottawa.

The convoy was condemned by trucking industry and labour groups. The Canadian Trucking Alliance stated that most protesters had no connection to trucking. Near a blockade in Coutts, Alberta, multiple weapons were seized, and four men charged with conspiracy to commit murder of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers. Officials raised concerns of some protesters' involvement with far-right extremist groups, including those promoting violence, and that some protesters called for the federal government of Canada to be overthrown. Some sources have called the protests an occupation or a siege. On the political front, Trudeau and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh condemned the convoy, while many members of Parliament from the Conservative Party of Canada endorsed the convoy; Republican politicians from the United States, as well as other conservative politicians and media figures, also endorsed the convoy.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Highlights Frustrations was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Canadian Press (January 28, 2022). "Ottawa police call in reinforcements as convoy takes up positions around Parliament". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Taylor, Stephanie; Berthiaume, Lee (November 23, 2022). "Solicitor-client privilege on Emergencies Act creates 'black box,' inquiry hears". ctvnews.ca. CTV News. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  4. ^ MacCharles, Tonda; Ballingall, Alex (November 21, 2022). "CSIS head told Justin Trudeau to use Emergencies Act, inquiry told". thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Soucy, Paul (January 28, 2022). "Trucker convoy leaves Kingston heading for weekend rally in Ottawa". Global News. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "Arnprior expecting 600 Freedom Convoy vehicles this afternoon". InsideOttawaValley.com. January 28, 2022.
  7. ^ @davidakin (January 28, 2022). "Police Sources On Freedom Convoy Numbers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Ottawa mayor says ticketing, towing protesters could incite them". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 31, 2022. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Coletta_20220131 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Toronto police, city officials preparing for potential Queen's Park convoy protest". CBC News. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Paez, Beatrice (February 4, 2022). "Morning Update: Canada moved to stop the arrest of ex-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, sources say". The Globe and Mail – via www.theglobeandmail.com.
  12. ^ "Tungasuvvingat Inuit says truckers protest in Ottawa causing 'anxiety and increased fear'". APTN National News. Winnipeg MB: APTN. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Ottawa mayor says ticketing, towing protesters could incite them". CBC News. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Al-Hakim, Aya (February 5, 2022). "As it happened: Ottawa police warn against supplying 'material supports' to protesters". Global News. Toronto ON. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Josh Pringle; Ted Raymond (February 5, 2022). "'We need an additional surge of resources:' Ottawa police chief". CTV News. Toronto ON: BellMedia. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference WpgFTR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBCcalm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ "Update on Police Operations to Remove Unlawful Protesters". Ottawa Police Service. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "42 arrests, 37 vehicle seizures made by police in Windsor protest". CTV News Windsor. February 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "CityNews". toronto.citynews.ca.
  21. ^ "Twelve more arrests as RCMP clear protest near Pacific Highway border crossing". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver BC: Postmedia. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  22. ^ "Two Peterborough men charged in connection with convoy protests over the weekend". CTV News Toronto. February 21, 2022.
  23. ^ "Man accused in hit-and-run at Manitoba Freedom Convoy protest granted bail, barred from entering Winnipeg". CTV News Winnipeg. February 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Ottawa Police Service Deploying All Available Officers to Enforce Neighbourhood Safety". Ottawa Police Service. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Hall, Kalea; Barghouthi, Hani (February 15, 2022). "How long Ambassador Bridge blockade will be felt after reopening". The Detroit News. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  26. ^ La Grassa, Jennifer (February 15, 2022). "Ambassador Bridge blockade stalled billions in trade — and there could be other effects: expert". CBC News. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  27. ^ Holthuis, Annemieke (1993). "Maxwell Cohen's Perspective on Human Rights in Canada: The Entrenchment of the Charter and the Enactment of the Emergencies Act". In Kaplan, William; McRae, Donald (eds.). Law, Policy and International Justice: Essays in Honour of Maxwell Cohen. McGill–Queen's University Press. pp. 207–242. ISBN 978-0-7735-6427-5. OCLC 243500608.
  28. ^ MacLellan, Bruce (February 15, 2022). "Invoking the Emergencies Act can help build trust in government". iPolitics. Ottawa ON. Retrieved February 18, 2022.


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