The Canadian freedom convoy
Truckers of Canada, unite! You have nothing to lose but your vaccine mandates.
Or maybe your jobs.
Thousands of truckers and others opposed to cross-border vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions have rolled into Ottawa on Saturday for a rally on Parliament Hill.
For the past week, several teams of truckers and supporters across the country have been making their way to the nation’s capital as part of the “freedom convoy,” raising more than $8 million from more than 101,000 donations on GoFundMe along the way, as of midday Saturday. Some convoy participants have already been in the city since Friday, lining the streets and waving flags in front of the Hill.
It’s an impressive demonstration.
A great many people are fed up with the two years’ of COVID restrictions and in particular with mandates. It’s not that they don’t have respect for the damage COVID can do; most people are well aware of that. It’s just that the response of many governments, both local and national, has been to grab more power and control (and then to flout their own rules in private, but that’s another story) without much thought of a meaningful cost/benefit analysis.
Here’s a video by Viva Frei, who is Canadian. It’s from two days ago, and he talks about how the Canadian media was first covering (or not covering, in some cases) the story:
And now it’s reported that Trudeau and his family have been moved to a secure location because of “security concerns.” I don’t think those big trucks are a threat of violence.
Kate: I saw that on UPI: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/01/29/canada-trudeau-moved-undisclosed-location-trucker-covid-protest-ottawa/3121643481386/
Think there’s enough room in Brandon’s basement for Justin to hide? The latest Canadian joke is that he’s got a bad case of COWARD-19.
Yep, the MSM has reported little on this; and when they do report on it they are mostly along the lines of this will be chaos, this raises concerns of safety, etc.
Trudeau has referred to these truckers as a “fringe minority” while organizers of the convoy claim there are 50,000 truckers are on the road. Many YouTube videos show Canadians coming out to highway overpasses showing there support all across Canada from BC to Ottawa. Hardly “fringe.”
Kate, I think the MSM announcing that Trudeau being moved to a secure location for “security concerns” adds to their propaganda. They want to show how “dangerous” those dissenters are; not unlike when the MSM was reporting “more violence at Trump rallies.” It is another way of “demonizing” those they don’t agree with.
Viva Frei is right in that the politicians are using fear as a way of trying to cover up their own competence.
PA+Cat; “COWARD19” that is funny!
That is funny, PA Cat. And Charles, you’ve got power! Woohoo!
Secure location? Another minstrel show by Trudeau.
That Coward19 is now endemic, brought on by that plauge, OMB.
Neil Oliver of GBNews in the UK has been the most consistently thoughtful commentator on the toll the authoritarian gov’t actions have had on everybody. His Saturday commentaries are must watch.
Here he is today on the Canadian truckers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yuIBNvdjrA
Seems that Trudeau wants his own insurrection myth so badly that he’s going to stage manage one all by himself.
.. his gov’t has issue a ‘red alert’ to the imminent threat that parliament will be stormed
https://www.thecountersignal.com/news/internal-document-shows-feds-anticipating-jan-6-moment
This situation could become very dangerous for the protesters if the police are willing to play along, and engage them as though they’re actually a violent mob.
Griffin, thanks for the Neil Oliver video. He’s right, as he so often is. I’ve talked with my husband about this from time to time. If leftists make life here really intolerable, where could we go? This needs to stop.
This is the gov’t response in Nova Scotia.
https://twitter.com/MichaelPSenger/status/1487464744151760901
Cuz it’s an emergency and all.
Canadian Broadcasting is now reporting that Russians are among the truckers and may have organized this convoy. Is there anything the Russians can’t do?
Now, Nova Scotia is banning the truckers. Now a $10,000 fine for “demonstrating on the highway.” I wonder how Nova Scotia gets their food ?
Putin’s dark Russian accent concealed the truth of the danger…
They weren’t threatening Ukraine !?!?
They were threatening YOU KAREN !!!
It’s like a Peter Sellers film.
The Canadian pols are about to find out where their daily bread comes from. Empty shelves? You ain’t seen nothin’ until the truckers go on strike.
Talk of American truckers doing the same. If they do, Buddha Judge is about to get a supply chain lesson. 🙂
Ideological fanatics do not back down, they double down.
Griffin- I agree with Kate, thanks for the Neil Oliver video. I had never heard of him, but I will have to start following him. Here’s the link again for anyone interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yuIBNvdjrA
Add another neophile to the list of those who appreciated the Neil Oliver video Griffin shared.
Nigel Farage’s “Talking Pints*” is another worthwhile GBNews program. Awhile back I think I posted a link to one where Mark Steyn interviewed one of the original Von Trapp’s and his son who still maintain the family’s original Inn (in Vermont?) and now brew their own beer.
*Not a typo; just a clever pun by Farage.
Neil Oliver has a GBNews show on Saturday evenings UK time and he always opens with a monologue. They usually post the monologue on YouTube in the afternoon our time.
He is an incredibly good writer and almost always brings a wider literary and historical context to his presentation.
@Kate 4:17 pm: “If leftists make life here really intolerable, where could we go?”
Might I tactfully opine that you are not the one that needs to go?
It sounds as if David Solway is thinking of leaving Canada. His newest post is titled “What Does It Mean to Be a Canadian Today?”
” . . . [My wife and I] believed that we were decent and productive Canadian citizens. The result is that we are now pariahs in our own country. The reason for this strange turn of events is common knowledge. We object to the ruinous official response to the pandemic — the mask mandates, the lockdowns and curfews, and now the mandatory vaccination protocols and vaxxports . . . . It became clear that the set of rules and edicts our iron-handed governments and autocratic health officers have imposed has not only been wrong but catastrophic. . . . As of this writing, the anti-mandate, anti-Trudeau truck convoy that has made world news is beginning to arrive on Parliament Hill. . . . The Trudeau government will likely resort to a false flag operation, seeking to turn the event into a rerun of the fake January 6 ‘insurrection.’ It will condemn the truckers for snarling up traffic and preventing ambulances and fire trucks from responding to emergencies. Or it may do nothing besides let the truckers and their supporters freeze in -40ºC weather. The major news organizations are uniformly engaged in a slander blitzkrieg. . . . Altogether, the way in which this courageous band of truckers has been treated is without doubt the most sordid spectacle of political depravity I have ever witnessed in this country.”
And Solway concludes that he and his wife may have little choice except to leave: Unlike the United States, Canada has no term limits on incumbent power. Trudeau may be in office for another decade or two, ruling an already broken country. Once — or if — local and personal circumstances permit, emigration is a feasible option. After all, citizenship can not only be abrogated, it can also be renounced.
https://pjmedia.com/columns/david-solway-2/2022/01/29/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-canadian-today-n1554296
@AesopFan:
Canada does appear to be lost.
“And Solway concludes that he and his wife may have little choice except to leave: Unlike the United States, Canada has no term limits on incumbent power. Trudeau may be in office for another decade or two, ruling an already broken country. Once — or if — local and personal circumstances permit, emigration is a feasible option. After all, citizenship can not only be abrogated, it can also be renounced.”
Fortunately he can acquire immediate first class citizenship in a very nice first world rambunctiously democratic part of the Sunny Levant quicker than you can say USS Liberty. No more shoveling snow or putting up with Trudeaus. What’s not to like? Were I him, I’d be off like a shot.
Zaphod:
Again with the Israel.
Z is showing his fixation again with the reference to the USS Liberty. Z being a tool again.
Yes Davod Solway is Jewish. His wife Janice Fiamengo is an anti-feminist university professor and has pretty good content on screwtube.
If you want some anti-Z intelligent thought Uncommon Knowledge has an interview with Victor Davis Hanson concerning his book “The Dying Citizen”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQSjO5-sSOY
Z of course won’t like it because VDH doesn’t heel to the tripe of tribalism and Blood and Soil or kow tow to the CCP.
neo post before I can compose a thought. 😉
Solidarnosc!!
Rex Murphy, one of Canada’s most respected “old school” journalists (though “controversial”, to be sure, because he’s right of center…and eminently sensible, with a well-honed sense of humor):
“Should Justin Trudeau be deciding what views are ‘acceptable’?
“The prime minister’s scornful dismissal of the truckers convoy makes me wonder: have those who rule us forgotten the basis of their rule?”—
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/rex-murphy-should-justin-trudeau-be-deciding-what-views-are-acceptable
Opening graf:
‘A couple of years ago Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sending valentines to our noble truckers for keeping Canadians fed through their deliveries. Yet a couple of days before this weekend’s gathering of the aforementioned truckers, who have travelled half of Canada in midwinter, from both directions, to express their concerns and feelings in a peaceful protest, he shoved them to the margins, declaring them a “fringe” and their views “unacceptable.”…’
Changeable as the weather in Alberta, as they say…. (and other places, too, no doubt).
I guess the next step is a back-to-work order or two or three…and when that doesn’t work—and the mass jailing take place(?)—well, just call in the armed forces. (I mean what’s an army for, anyway?)
“The prime minister’s scornful dismissal of the truckers convoy makes me wonder: have those who rule us forgotten the basis of their rule?”—
With scant doubt, Prince Zoolander hasn’t forgotten because he never knew. It’s indicative of the frivolity among the Canadian political class that he was placed in charge of the Liberal Party and indicative of the frivolity of the Canadian electorate that a critical mass of them cast ballots for the candidates of a political party led by a man who was a high school teacher for seven years (of a side subject) and a serial grad school dropout for five years. The Canadian electorate has chowed down on this sh!t sandwich 3x. They’re not treated as constituents with interests you have to respect because they have not insisted on it and this scion of the Canadian nomenklatura likely doesn’t have it in him even if they did insist.
Barry Meislin- a great article by Rex Murphy. Another point he makes is that these truckers are speaking not just for themselves, but for the millions of ordinary citizens who suffer the most from the arbitrary policies handed down by elites like Trudeau.
“There is a voice within this protest, a voice beyond the owner of the hands on the wheel, beyond the cheers coming from the side of the road or from the highway overpasses. A voice coming from the less comfortable in society, the perennially less seen or regarded. It’s the voice of dutiful, working citizens whom the past two years of shutdowns, loss of work or severe reduction of income, all kinds of pressures and anxieties, have worn them down. The truckers are emblems, stand-ins for these Canadians.”
Fortunately he can acquire immediate first class citizenship in a very nice first world rambunctiously democratic part of the Sunny Levant quicker than you can say USS Liberty.
Zaphod’s always leaving this little turds to remind you that his stated back story’s a fiction.
Another point he makes is that these truckers are speaking not just for themselves, but for the millions of ordinary citizens who suffer the most from the arbitrary policies handed down by elites like Trudeau.
Yes they are, but that’s what share of the Canadian public? The trouble with Canada is that most of its inhabitants are clients rather than citizens.
At this point I see no justification for any restrictions on the general public in any country, period.
No mask mandates, no vaccine mandates, no vaccine passports, no masks on planes and other transportation, no school closures or restrictions. None. None.
I might be open to some masking (quality masks) in hospitals or congregate care but even that is iffy.
Wanna wear a mask, fine. Wanna get 17 booster shots, whatever but that’s your issue not somebody else’s.
And none of this ‘new normal’ garbage either. Nothing less than February 2020 normal is acceptable.
It is very important for people to accept nothing less.
This is cool: Canadian Sikhs supporting the truckers.
https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/sikhs-are-rising-up/
Eva Marie,
This is very good also.
https://twitter.com/ezralevant/status/1487513119119261696
Ezra Levant’s twitter has tons of stuff from the last few days for those interested in what’s been going on in Canada.
Canadian truckers are fascists, you’re a fascist, I’m a fascist, everybody is a fascist.
Another good video from GBNews.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUiHelMINoE
An added wrinkle:
‘Makes No Sense’: Canadian Premier Vows to End Proof of Vaccine Policy as Truckers Protest in Ottawa—
https://www.theepochtimes.com/makes-no-sense-canada-premier-vows-to-end-proof-of-vaccine-policy-as-truckers-protest-in-ottawa_4244794.html
Key grafs:
‘…Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said…that being vaccinated doesn’t prevent one from getting the virus and the vaccine mandate “makes no sense.”
‘“I want to be clear on how I feel about vaccines. I am fully vaccinated with my booster shot. This did not prevent me from recently contracting COVID-19, but I believe it did keep me from becoming sick,” he said….
‘“…[B]ecause vaccination is not reducing transmission, the current federal border policy for truckers makes no sense. An unvaccinated trucker does not pose any greater risk of transmission than a vaccinated trucker,” he continued.
‘He will “continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated” though, believing it will prevent people from becoming seriously ill….
‘…Moe showed his appreciation to the truckers for keeping the country running during the pandemic and said the federal vaccine mandate for truckers poses a significant risk to Canada’s economy and to the supply chain in Saskatchewan….’
When one reads about this fiasco (and others) one is struck that there is absolutely NO ATTEMPT by the authorities on either side of the border (and in most, if not all, other Western countries) to treat the disease.
Worse, nor is there any official attempt to PREVENTATIVELY TREAT IT
Griffin, thanks. Levant highlighted this story:
“I do ask that because given Canada’s support of Ukraine, in this current crisis with Russia, I don’t know if it’s far-fetched to ask,” CBC host Nil Koksal told Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino Friday.
“But there is concern that Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things as this protest grows. But perhaps even instigating it from, from the outset.”
Barry,
In fact they are actually fighting against treatments (i.e. pulling the EUA on monoclunal Antibodies).
That lack of interest in treatments from people that treat this like the plague is right up near the top of ‘tells’ that they actually don’t think it’s the plague but just like using it as a political cudgel that they never want to go away.
Griffin, yes, absolutely.
It’s a huge indictment.
@ Eva – the story you linked is just a picture, but the comments are more informative – skipping over the usual trollish banter.
Most concurred with these assessments:
“Lots of Sikh truckers, these are good people who normally don’t get into politics. That says a lot.”
“I’ve worked with Sikhs in my career, and I very much respect the culture. The ones who have become American citizens are quite patriotic.”
This fits the history as I know it; I’m no expert, but Wikipedia’s very long article confirms this brief sketch.
“The Sikhs helped save India from becoming completely Islamized. The Sikh revolts in Punjab along with the rise of the Hindu Marathas in central India led to the eventual downfall of the Islamic Mughal Empire that had ruled the subcontinent with an iron fist for centuries. By the time the British took over, the Mughal territory had been reduced to a city-state confined to Delhi.
The Sikhs are still some of the best fighters in the Indian Armed Forces.”
Commenter Velocipede wins the thread: “18 wheels to flatten the curve”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sikhism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_Empire
Branching out from a couple of other comments, which did not contain links so I did my own looking around, these two articles are relevant. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, Dr. Jordan Peterson figures tangentially in both of them.
https://nypost.com/2022/01/27/last-living-signer-of-canadian-constitutional-charter-of-rights-sues-government-over-covid-travel-ban/
Note: all Sikhs use the surname “Singh” regardless of actual family connection, and Sikhs are not Muslims.
https://thepostmillennial.com/jagmeet-singh-faces-backlash-after-accusing-truckers-of-white-supremacy
The post Eva linked had an interesting exchange in the comments, which I reproduce here, in substance, for its entertainment value.
TF
I sat next to a Sikh gentleman on an airplane, coming back from my son’s boot camp ceremony. He was dressed in traditional garb and as the plane began to taxi down the runway, his phone rang. Every person on that plane turned to look and you could see the terror on their faces. I was next to him so I heard him tell his wife that he would be home soon. I felt calmer hearing that and as we flew and began talking, I learned what a wonderful, America loving man this man was. If the indoctrinated left had half the patriotism as this man, this country would be much better off.
Stu Gotts
I know several of them, and all of them are patriots. They are a fascinating people and I’m proud to have them as part of our American family.
Good Humorman
When the enemy muslims and ccp attack across the Indian frontier more often than not the Sikh regiments are in the vanguard of the defenders.
And for good reason, think Texans in turbans. ?
TF
As a matter of fact, we were headed back home to Texas. He WAS a Texan in a turban.
AesopFan wrote “ @ Eva – the story you linked is just a picture”
Maybe on your browser? When I click on the link, it displays the tweet with a little arrow on the picture. When I click on the arrow the spokesman for the Sikh Freedom Alliance gives a short speech of support.
BTW on TikTok there’s several folks posting almost 24 hour coverage of the rally. They stop for sleep. That’s it.
Here’s a story about the “agent provocateurs” in the crowds at the rally. (Click on the arrows to see the clips.)
https://defiantamerica.com/video-allegedly-shows-masked-agent-provocateur-confronted-by-truckers-during-anti-mandate-protests-in-canada-runs-away-like-a-coward/
Russel Brand on the the Canadian truckers: (scroll past his picture to the video and click on the little arrow to watch his report)
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/megan-fox/2022/01/29/watch-russell-brand-calls-out-fake-news-media-for-convoy-protest-blackout-goes-viral-n1554186
Boy, did Nixon blow that prediction, or what?
@ Eva – thanks for the tip. I wasn’t familiar with the protocol at CFP.
Appreciate the updates from everyone. It will be interesting if Canada provides the tipping point for ending the Covid tyrannies.
Viva Frei has been livestreaming from Ottawa the last few hours and it is very inspiring. Just talking to the people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgyB_VNweUo
Late to the party, again!*
I think one of the reasons the Canadian trucker convoy has grabbed people’s attention is because this particular group can exert real pressure. They can actually shut things down. We saw a little of this with the pilot push back and the support they got and how fast the airlines back tracked.
At this point I think people’s support for the truckers will have staying power and tolerate some actual inconvenience. It’s not like we haven’t been inconvenienced the last two years. The perception is that they are doing this for all of us. I think they are.
One interesting side note is this may shift some of the uncritical acceptance of the ‘green’ hatred of the transportation industry to a more realistic view of how the modern world really works.
*Not much time to comment. Pitching in with care of my first grandchild to give his mom and dad a break. Grandparenting is a blast!
By way of American Thinker, Canadian woman talks about freedom
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z2ruoLixfA&t=90s
This is Trudeau’s speech approx 8 hours ago. It is the definition of gaslighting. Spoken alternately in French and in English, it lasts about 10 minutes with q’s and a’s afterward. (You can speed it up by clicking on the 3 vertical dots at the top of the video and then clicking on playback speed. You can also add English captions.) The comments are uniformly negative.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=69&v=JfsoInXy8xc&feature=emb_logo