Convoy protests over anti-vaccine continue in Canada’s Ottawa: What we know so far

Massive demonstrations where the protestors are demanding an end to Canadian COVID-19 vaccine mandates have caused gridlock in the capital Ottawa since late January. The protests by truckers and others are now spilling to key Canada-United States border crossings and disrupting trade.

Reuters reported that the mayor of Windsor, Ontario, where protesters have closed the Ambassador Bridge border crossing to the United States, choking trade, said police were preparing to physically remove protesters if necessary.

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How did the protests breakout?

In late January, the “Freedom Convoy” driving across Canada toward Ottawa ostensibly opposed vaccinate-or-quarantine mandates for cross-border truckers. But most truckers do not support the convoy.

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The Canadian Trucking Alliance, an industry group, said it opposes protests on public roadways and the vast majority of Canadian truckers are vaccinated.

The protests have broadened to oppose a range of provincial and federal COVID-19 measures.

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What impact are the protests having?

According to various news reports, as many as three border blockades are disrupting hundreds of millions of dollars in Canada-US trade.

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Copycat protests have also sprung up in Australia, New Zealand and France, while truckers in the United States have said they are planning similar demonstrations. Organisers online have said a demonstration planned for Monday in Belgium’s capital, Brussels, will see convoys merge from countries across Europe.

Reuters reported that the protests may have contributed to the opposition Conservative Party’s ousting of leader Erin O’Toole, who angered some Conservative legislators for initially distancing himself from the protests.

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Some provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, have eased COVID-19 measures since the start of the protests, but denied a connection.