New Delhi: What started out as a truckers’ protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Canada has now turned into a larger movement against alleged government overreach that could evolve into a full-blown political crisis for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On Tuesday, Canada’s capital, Ottawa, declared a state of emergency in response to truckers’ protests or the so-called “Freedom Convoy”. With vehicles and tents blocking roads, the protesters gathered near Parliament Hill as they entered into the second week of demonstrations.
In January, the Canadian federal government introduced cross-border vaccine mandates affecting truck drivers. Protesters initially took to the streets to contest the rule, but the movement has become a wider demonstration opposing nationwide Covid-19 restrictions, and the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Wondering why there were no cops at the 100+ person street party with a DJ on a truck at Rideau and Sussex last night?
The protestors chased them off.
Here is video from one prominent protestor from last night #cdnpoli #ottnews #TruckerConvoy2022 https://t.co/W80MUSmYEF pic.twitter.com/7Jl9ttbeJ7
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) February 5, 2022
On 29 January, Trudeau and his family shifted from their home in Ottawa — located about 4km from the epicentre of the protest — to a secret location due to security reasons.
Protesters, who complain that the vaccine mandate is leading to major job losses for truckers, have also caught the attention of public figures across the border.
Last Friday, former US president Donald Trump voiced support for the movement, calling Trudeau a “far left lunatic”.
Meanwhile, the “Freedom Convoy” campaign has in recent days turned to a Christian crowdfunding site, GiveSendGo, after GoFundMe, an American for-profit crowdfunding platform they were initially using to raise funds, “froze” more than $10 million raised by the movement. This too has caught the attention of US Republicans across the border, with four US states promising to investigate the crowdsourcing site for allegedly deceptive practices.
ThePrint explains how the truckers’ protest in Canada has evolved into an “occupation” of the country’s capital, the controversy surrounding GoFundMe’s decision to suspend donations, and more.
Also read: Australia reopens to international visitors after 2 years, gradually unwinds restrictions
The reason for protest
In November 2021, to contain the spread of the Omicron variant, the Canadian federal government announced that all Canadian truckers seeking to cross the border from the US would need to be vaccinated in order to avoid a 14-day quarantine.
On 15 January, the mandate came into effect, despite warnings from the trucking industry that the measures could worsen existing labour shortage in the industry. On 22 January, the US instituted a similar measure.
Nearly 10 days after Canada’s implementation of the cross-border vaccine mandate, Trudeau received backlash from conservative politicians, and later accused them of stoking fear that the measure is fueling supply chain disruptions and inflation.
“I regret that the Conservative Party and conservative politicians are fear mongering to Canadians about the supply chain, but the reality is that vaccination is how we’re going to get through this,” said Trudeau on 24 January.
Turning protests into a ‘party’
Some media reports began referring to the protest as an “occupation” of the country’s capital. The protest began on 29 January, with truckers from across Canada congregating at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and “railing on their horns”.
It is LOUD on Parliament Hill!
The truckers parked on Wellington are railing on their horns, as more and more protesters start to congregate on the Hill #cdnpoli #ottnews #TruckerConvoy2022 pic.twitter.com/kZtnYslNBN
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) January 29, 2022
Images and videos started appearing on social media of some protesters allegedly holding Confederate flags and Nazi symbols, and some allegedly desecrating a war memorial in Ottawa.
#FreedomConvoy protesters confronted a fully obscured & lone individual holding a confederate flag at the truckers’ protest in Ottawa. They believe he’s an outside provocateur. Similar incidents have happened in US involving leftists flying Nazi symbols. https://t.co/irNVuJcjcd
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) February 1, 2022
Two individuals, Pat King and Chris Barber, have been identified by media as organisers of the protest. They have received support from Conservative Party MPs like Pierre Poilievre and Jeremy Patzer, who have also vowed to put an end to what they view as “unnecessary mandates that have no support, no backing by science”.
However, the crisis also prompted Canadian Senator Dennis Patterson to leave the Conservative caucus, saying he cannot support “hooligans” involved with truckers protest.
So far, Ottawa police have confirmed that about 60 criminal investigations have been opened for crimes of mischief, thefts, hate crimes and property damage during the protests, and that a thousand vehicles and about 5,000 protesters were on the streets of Ottawa last weekend.
According to a BBC report, the movement had attracted “far-right and extremist elements”, and there were claims from people of racial attacks and some protesters harassing people who were wearing masks.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson also noted that protesters were disrupting everyday life in the capital with their demonstration, lighting up fireworks and “turning it into a party”. Videos have also surfaced on social media of music and dancing at the protest, including to some Punjabi tunes.
Los progres en canada acusan a #TruckersForFreedom los camioneros Canadienses de ser pro nazis, supremasistas blancos y xenofobos, con que estupides mas van a salir cuando vean este video de um Punjabi con su musica en medio de la protesta y todos los canadienses celebrando pic.twitter.com/LIiZdMSF3Q
— mensajero (@arrobaneado) February 8, 2022
Why did GoFundMe take down the donation page?
On 4 February, crowdsourcing platform GoFundMe decided to take down the page accepting donations in support of the “Freedom Convoy” campaign.
To simplify the process for our users, we will be refunding all donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser. This refund will happen automatically—you do not need to submit a request. Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days.
— GoFundMe (@gofundme) February 5, 2022
It had initially said it would refund donations and distribute remaining funds to charities selected by the Freedom Convoy organisers. However, following backlash, it put out a fresh statement that all donations would be fully refunded.
The platform alleged that the Freedom Convoy’s page violated its terms of service, after claiming it received evidence from law enforcement that the previously “peaceful” demonstration had become an “occupation”.
A day later, Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, urged Republican Attorney Generals in US states to take action against GoFundMe.
All GOP Attorney Generals should be looking at this & helping to get people their $$$ back so it can be redirected to the truckers. Don’t let @gofundme scam you… call your AGs & let them know. GFM seems to have no problem finding BLM riots… peaceful truckers should be fine too. https://t.co/YYLpQDUYl1
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 5, 2022
GoFundMe is a San Diego-based company.
Four US states — Florida, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas — have so far announced that they will be investigating GoFundMe for allegedly deceptive practices.
The crowdfunding platform was also called upon by a parliamentary committee in Canada to testify about how it ensures money raised on its platform isn’t misused.
Meanwhile, the “Freedom Convoy” campaign has turned to Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, and raised $4.7 million as of Monday.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
Also read: What it will take to vaccinate the world against Covid