Protesters seeking an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures are demonstrating for a third weekend at sites across Canada, and solidarity demonstrations are being held in other countries.
Protesters seeking an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures are demonstrating for a third weekend at sites across Canada, and solidarity demonstrations are being held in other countries.
The Freedom Convoy, as it’s known, rolled into Ottawa in late January and has inspired similar protests across Canada, including blockades at vital border crossings.
The protests have caused widespread disruptions, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that police and all levels of government are preparing to take action against the demonstrators if they do not stand down.
What’s happening across Canada
In the Atlantic provinces, a crowd of protesters outside the New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton grew to nearly 700 on Saturday afternoon, according to the mayor’s advisers. A long, honking line of cars winding around the block drew cheers into the evening. As it began getting dark, some protesters started to disperse, leaving about 200 people as of 6 p.m. AT.
A Nova Scotia protest in support of the convoy, comprised of up to 300 people, was met with a counter-protest in Halifax.
In Prince Edward Island, cars, trucks and even some tractors travelled through Charlottetown in what was billed as a “slow roll” protest. The local police chief said 500 to 700 vehicles took part.
WATCH | Drone footage shows Charlottetown convoy:
Drone footage shows convoy protest rolling through downtown Charlottetown
The view from above as a convoy of Islanders protesting vaccine mandates drove through downtown Charlottetown on Saturday, Feb. 12. 2:38
In the Prairies, several border crossings were impassable on Saturday. The Manitoba border crossing that connects Emerson to Pembina, N.D., was blocked by a convoy of about 50 trucks and farm vehicles, while demonstrators also gathered at the provincial legislature in Winnipeg.
The Canada Border Services Agency says services at the Coutts crossing in Alberta have been temporarily suspended due to similar protests. Meanwhile, a demonstration is planned at the Regway border crossing in Saskatchewan.
In Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency, police have moved in to enforce an injunction to end a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor to Detroit. Police in Fort Erie, near Niagara Falls, said they are also bracing for a protest convoy to arrive at the Peace Bridge, Canada’s third-busiest border crossing.
More than 1,000 people gathered peacefully near the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. In Ottawa, police estimated 4,000 protesters were in the nation’s capital on Saturday and announced a new “integrated command centre” with provincial and federal partners to “enhance the ability to respond to the current situation.”
In Quebec, protesters in Montreal marched and listened to speakers at a park, which included People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier. A smaller group of counter-protesters also held a short march, calling the movement against pandemic measures “a front for the far-right.”
In British Columbia, the main route to the Pacific Highway border crossing to Washington in Surrey, B.C., has closed after being clogged by anti-mandate protesters. While the border remains open, DriveBC camera footage shows protesters walking toward the Pacific Highway crossing after breaking through an RCMP barricade.
What’s happening around the world
Protests inspired by the Canadian demonstrations were seen in parts of Europe on Saturday.
France’s Interior Ministry said about 32,000 people participated in protests throughout the country, including 7,600 in Paris. At least 500 vehicles in several convoys attempted to enter the capital city at key arteries but were intercepted by police, who fired tear gas at protesters. Police said they made 54 arrests and handed out more than 300 tickets by mid-afternoon.
In the Netherlands, meanwhile, dozens of trucks and other vehicles ranging from tractors to a car towing a camping van arrived in The Hague, blocking an entrance to the historic parliamentary complex. Protesters on foot joined them, carrying a banner emblazoned with “Love and Freedom, No Dictatorship” in Dutch.
In the United States, a convoy of motorists is planning to head to the waterfront in Port Huron, Mich., which sits opposite of Sarnia, Ont., in support of protesters in Canada. Another U.S. group said two separate vehicle convoys will converge this weekend on the American side of the Peace Bridge, in Buffalo.
Earlier this week in New Zealand, protesters rolled up to Parliament grounds in a convoy of cars and trucks and set up camp. Police have taken a hands-off approach after initial attempts to remove them resulted in physical confrontations.
Protesters seeking an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures are demonstrating for a third weekend at sites across Canada, and solidarity demonstrations are being held in other countries.Protesters seeking an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures are demonstrating for a third weekend at sites across Canada, and solidarity demonstrations are being held in other countries. The Freedom Convoy, as it’s known, rolled into Ottawa in late January and has inspired similar protests across Canada, including blockades at vital border crossings. The protests have caused widespread disruptions, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that police and all levels of government are preparing to take action against the demonstrators if they do not stand down. What’s happening across Canada In the Atlantic provinces, a crowd of protesters outside the New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton grew to nearly 700 on Saturday afternoon, according to the mayor’s advisers. A long, honking line of cars winding around the block drew cheers into the evening. As it began getting dark, some protesters started to disperse, leaving about 200 people as of 6 p.m. AT. A Nova Scotia protest in support of the convoy, comprised of up to 300 people, was met with a counter-protest in Halifax. In Prince Edward Island, cars, trucks and even some tractors travelled through Charlottetown in what was billed as a “slow roll” protest. The local police chief said 500 to 700 vehicles took part. WATCH | Drone footage shows Charlottetown convoy: Drone footage shows convoy protest rolling through downtown CharlottetownThe view from above as a convoy of Islanders protesting vaccine mandates drove through downtown Charlottetown on Saturday, Feb. 12. 2:38 In the Prairies, several border crossings were impassable on Saturday. The Manitoba border crossing that connects Emerson to Pembina, N.D., was blocked by a convoy of about 50 trucks and farm vehicles, while demonstrators also gathered at the provincial legislature in Winnipeg. The Canada Border Services Agency says services at the Coutts crossing in Alberta have been temporarily suspended due to similar protests. Meanwhile, a demonstration is planned at the Regway border crossing in Saskatchewan. In Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford has declared a state of emergency, police have moved in to enforce an injunction to end a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor to Detroit. Police in Fort Erie, near Niagara Falls, said they are also bracing for a protest convoy to arrive at the Peace Bridge, Canada’s third-busiest border crossing. Ontario Provincial Police block a highway on-ramp near the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ont., ahead of a planned protest against COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday. (Aaron Lynett/The Canadian Press) More than 1,000 people gathered peacefully near the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. In Ottawa, police estimated 4,000 protesters were in the nation’s capital on Saturday and announced a new “integrated command centre” with provincial and federal partners to “enhance the ability to respond to the current situation.” In Quebec, protesters in Montreal marched and listened to speakers at a park, which included People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier. A smaller group of counter-protesters also held a short march, calling the movement against pandemic measures “a front for the far-right.” In British Columbia, the main route to the Pacific Highway border crossing to Washington in Surrey, B.C., has closed after being clogged by anti-mandate protesters. While the border remains open, DriveBC camera footage shows protesters walking toward the Pacific Highway crossing after breaking through an RCMP barricade. What’s happening around the world Protests inspired by the Canadian demonstrations were seen in parts of Europe on Saturday. France’s Interior Ministry said about 32,000 people participated in protests throughout the country, including 7,600 in Paris. At least 500 vehicles in several convoys attempted to enter the capital city at key arteries but were intercepted by police, who fired tear gas at protesters. Police said they made 54 arrests and handed out more than 300 tickets by mid-afternoon. A convoy protester waves a Canadian flag in Paris on Saturday. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters) In the Netherlands, meanwhile, dozens of trucks and other vehicles ranging from tractors to a car towing a camping van arrived in The Hague, blocking an entrance to the historic parliamentary complex. Protesters on foot joined them, carrying a banner emblazoned with “Love and Freedom, No Dictatorship” in Dutch. In the United States, a convoy of motorists is planning to head to the waterfront in Port Huron, Mich., which sits opposite of Sarnia, Ont., in support of protesters in Canada. Another U.S. group said two separate vehicle convoys will converge this weekend on the American side of the Peace Bridge, in Buffalo. Earlier this week in New Zealand, protesters rolled up to Parliament grounds in a convoy of cars and trucks and set up camp. Police have taken a hands-off approach after initial attempts to remove them resulted in physical confrontations.