Canada's Freedom Convoy has gone global. Protests against vaccine-mandates are being reported in France, Australia & New Zealand. Back in Ottawa, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau is face the ire of the Canadian opposition. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Canada's 'Freedom Convoy' goes global

Blaring horns, impassable streets and distressed citizens all of this is the work of a movement that calls itself the freedom convoy. Truck drivers in Canada are demanding an end to covid-19 vaccine mandates, it has disrupted major cities clogging all key US-Canada border crossings and in the latest, the truck blockade is tightening the screws on the auto industry.

Truckers protest in Canada snarl an already hobbled auto industry

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs. But then came thousands of truckers who, angry about vaccine mandates, have been blocking major border crossings between Canada and the United States.

With Canadian officials baffled about what to do, the main routes that handle the steel, aluminum and other parts that keep car factories running on both sides of the border were essentially shut down Wednesday and Thursday.

Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda and Toyota have curtailed production at several factories in Michigan and Ontario, threatening paychecks and offering a fresh reminder of the fragility of global supply chains and of the deep interdependence of the U.S. and Canadian economies, which exchange $140 million in vehicles and parts every day.

No one knows how this is going to end. The protests are expected to swell in the coming days and could spread, including to the United States. Canada’s transport minister has called the bridge blockades illegal. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of public safety, said Thursday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national force, was sending additional officers to the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and to Windsor, Ontario. The mayor of Windsor has threatened to remove the protesters. But those statements have seemed to have little impact. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded with Canadian officials to quickly reopen traffic.

“They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy,” Whitmer said in a statement Thursday.

The chaos is already starting to take an economic toll. The pain is likely to be most acute for smaller auto parts suppliers, for independent truckers and for workers who get paid based on their production. Many of these groups, unlike large automakers like GM, Ford and Toyota, lack the clout to raise prices of their goods and services. Companies and workers in Canada are more likely to suffer because they are more dependent on the United States.

The longer crossings between the countries remain blocked, the more severe the damage, not only to the auto industry but also to the communities that depend on manufacturing salaries. Employees at large automakers generally are paid a percentage of their regular pay when they are sent home early. Workers at smaller firms typically receive no compensation for lost hours, said Dino Chiodo, director of auto at the giant Canadian union Unifor. Workers who have been sent home early because of parts shortages will spend less at stores and restaurants.

“People say, ‘I have $200 less this week; what do I do?’” Chiodo said. “It affects the Canadian and U.S. economy as a whole.”

Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Michigan, estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries.

Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, “then you’re looking at layoffs.”

The blockades came after a demonstration in Ottawa that started nearly two weeks ago. The protests began over a mandate that truck drivers coming from the United States be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have grown to include various pandemic restrictions. Some have demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign. The truckers have been joined by various groups, including some displaying Nazi symbols and damaging public monuments.

Police in Ottawa on Thursday said the protesters and their supporters, including some in the United States, had almost overwhelmed the city’s 911 system with calls.

The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. It carries roughly one-quarter of the trade between the two countries, which has been relatively unrestricted for decades. While food and other products are also affected, about one-third of the cargo that uses the bridge is related to the auto industry, Bailo said.

The blockade has been felt as far south as Kentucky, where production has been disrupted at a Toyota factory, the company said Thursday. The shutdown at the border also will prevent manufacturing at Toyota’s three Canadian plants for the rest of the week, said Scott Vazin, a company spokesperson.

GM said it had cancelled two shifts Wednesday and Thursday at a factory in Lansing, Michigan, that makes Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse sport utility vehicles. The company also sent workers from the first shift at a plant in Flint, Michigan, home early. Ford said Thursday that plants in Windsor and Oakville, also in Ontario, were running at reduced capacity.

Shortages of semiconductors and other components have not been all bad for giant automakers, creating scarcity that has driven up prices of cars in the last year. Ford and GM both reported healthy profits for 2021. And the economic damage will not be severe if the bridge and other crossings reopen soon, industry experts said.

But the last two years have shown that, because supply chains are so complex, problems at obscure parts makers can have far-reaching and unpredictable impact. Last year, Ford had to shut down plants for weeks at a time in part because of a fire at a chip factory in Japan.

“If it stretches on for weeks, it could be catastrophic,” said Peter Nagle, an analyst who covers the car industry at IHS Markit, a research firm.

Nagle said the bridge blockade was worse than the semiconductor shortage for carmakers. They “were already running pretty tight because of other supply chain shortages,” he said. “This is just bad news on top of bad news.”

The auto industry operates relatively seamlessly across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Some parts can travel back and forth across borders multiple times as raw materials are processed and are turned into components and, eventually, vehicles.

An engine block, for example, might be cast in Canada, sent to Michigan to be machined for pistons, then sent back to Canada for assembly into a finished motor. The blockades have stranded some truckers on the wrong side of the border, creating a chain reaction of missed deliveries.

Shelley Walker, CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, said she had been fielding calls from “a lot of angry drivers” who had been stuck waiting several hours to cross the border, citing one driver whose 15-mile trip took 6 1/2 hours Wednesday.

“What people seem to not understand is that when that truck isn’t moving, they make no money,” Walker said, noting that drivers with certain types of cargo, such as some hazardous materials, are limited to crossing on the Ambassador Bridge.

The slowdown in Canadian trade will disproportionately affect New York, Michigan and Ohio, said Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. At the same time, he added, the protests were “certainly raising concerns for all U.S. manufacturers.”

“There is already a shortage of truck drivers in North America, so protests keeping truckers off their routes exacerbates problems for an already fragile supply chain,” Wheaton said.

Carmakers had hoped that shortages of computer chips and other components would ease this year, allowing them to concentrate on the long term: the transition to electric vehicles.

A larger fear for many elected officials and business executives is that the scene at the Ambassador Bridge could inspire other protests. The Department of Homeland Security warned in an internal memo that a convoy of protesting truckers was planning to travel from California to Washington, D.C., potentially disrupting the Super Bowl and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address March 1.

“While there are currently no indications of planned violence,” the memo, which was dated Tuesday, said, “if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities and emergency services through gridlock and potential counter protests.”

Chiodo, the Canadian union leader, said that “the people who are demonstrating are doing it for the wrong reasons. They want to get back to the way things were before the pandemic, and in reality, they are shutting things down.”

The scene in Ottawa remained a raucous party Thursday, with hundreds of people on the street, many wearing Canadian flags like capes. The song “Life Is a Highway,” by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane, pumped from loudspeakers set up on the back of an empty trailer that had been converted into a stage.

But there was a thinning out of protesters — with some empty spaces where trucks had been the day before.

Johnny Neufeld, 39, a long-haul trucker from Windsor, said the vaccine mandate would spell the end of his job transporting molds into the United States since he had chosen not to be inoculated out of fear the shots had been developed too quickly. He got his first ticket from police Thursday morning, a fine of 130 Canadian dollars (about $100) for being in a no-stopping zone.

“This is a souvenir,” he said.

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs.

After two years of the pandemic, semiconductor shortages and supply chain chaos, it seemed like nothing else could go wrong for the auto industry and the millions of people it employs. But then came thousands of truckers who, angry about vaccine mandates, have been blocking major border crossings between Canada and the United States. With Canadian officials baffled about what to do, the main routes that handle the steel, aluminum and other parts that keep car factories running on both sides of the border were essentially shut down Wednesday and Thursday. Ford Motor, General Motors, Honda and Toyota have curtailed production at several factories in Michigan and Ontario, threatening paychecks and offering a fresh reminder of the fragility of global supply chains and of the deep interdependence of the U.S. and Canadian economies, which exchange $140 million in vehicles and parts every day. No one knows how this is going to end. The protests are expected to swell in the coming days and could spread, including to the United States. Canada’s transport minister has called the bridge blockades illegal. Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of public safety, said Thursday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the national force, was sending additional officers to the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and to Windsor, Ontario. The mayor of Windsor has threatened to remove the protesters. But those statements have seemed to have little impact. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pleaded with Canadian officials to quickly reopen traffic. “They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy,” Whitmer said in a statement Thursday. The chaos is already starting to take an economic toll. The pain is likely to be most acute for smaller auto parts suppliers, for independent truckers and for workers who get paid based on their production. Many of these groups, unlike large automakers like GM, Ford and Toyota, lack the clout to raise prices of their goods and services. Companies and workers in Canada are more likely to suffer because they are more dependent on the United States. The longer crossings between the countries remain blocked, the more severe the damage, not only to the auto industry but also to the communities that depend on manufacturing salaries. Employees at large automakers generally are paid a percentage of their regular pay when they are sent home early. Workers at smaller firms typically receive no compensation for lost hours, said Dino Chiodo, director of auto at the giant Canadian union Unifor. Workers who have been sent home early because of parts shortages will spend less at stores and restaurants. “People say, ‘I have $200 less this week; what do I do?’” Chiodo said. “It affects the Canadian and U.S. economy as a whole.” Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing, Michigan, estimated that workers in the state would lose $51 million this week across automakers and parts suppliers and in the transportation and logistics industries. Auto factories and suppliers in the United States generally keep at least two weeks of raw materials on hand, said Carla Bailo, president of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. If the bridges remain blocked for longer than that, she said, “then you’re looking at layoffs.” The blockades came after a demonstration in Ottawa that started nearly two weeks ago. The protests began over a mandate that truck drivers coming from the United States be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have grown to include various pandemic restrictions. Some have demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign. The truckers have been joined by various groups, including some displaying Nazi symbols and damaging public monuments. Police in Ottawa on Thursday said the protesters and their supporters, including some in the United States, had almost overwhelmed the city’s 911 system with calls. The crossing that has the auto industry and government officials most concerned is the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit. It carries roughly one-quarter of the trade between the two countries, which has been relatively unrestricted for decades. While food and other products are also affected, about one-third of the cargo that uses the bridge is related to the auto industry, Bailo said. The blockade has been felt as far south as Kentucky, where production has been disrupted at a Toyota factory, the company said Thursday. The shutdown at the border also will prevent manufacturing at Toyota’s three Canadian plants for the rest of the week, said Scott Vazin, a company spokesperson. GM said it had cancelled two shifts Wednesday and Thursday at a factory in Lansing, Michigan, that makes Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse sport utility vehicles. The company also sent workers from the first shift at a plant in Flint, Michigan, home early. Ford said Thursday that plants in Windsor and Oakville, also in Ontario, were running at reduced capacity. Shortages of semiconductors and other components have not been all bad for giant automakers, creating scarcity that has driven up prices of cars in the last year. Ford and GM both reported healthy profits for 2021. And the economic damage will not be severe if the bridge and other crossings reopen soon, industry experts said. But the last two years have shown that, because supply chains are so complex, problems at obscure parts makers can have far-reaching and unpredictable impact. Last year, Ford had to shut down plants for weeks at a time in part because of a fire at a chip factory in Japan. “If it stretches on for weeks, it could be catastrophic,” said Peter Nagle, an analyst who covers the car industry at IHS Markit, a research firm. Nagle said the bridge blockade was worse than the semiconductor shortage for carmakers. They “were already running pretty tight because of other supply chain shortages,” he said. “This is just bad news on top of bad news.” The auto industry operates relatively seamlessly across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Some parts can travel back and forth across borders multiple times as raw materials are processed and are turned into components and, eventually, vehicles. An engine block, for example, might be cast in Canada, sent to Michigan to be machined for pistons, then sent back to Canada for assembly into a finished motor. The blockades have stranded some truckers on the wrong side of the border, creating a chain reaction of missed deliveries. Shelley Walker, CEO of the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, said she had been fielding calls from “a lot of angry drivers” who had been stuck waiting several hours to cross the border, citing one driver whose 15-mile trip took 6 1/2 hours Wednesday. “What people seem to not understand is that when that truck isn’t moving, they make no money,” Walker said, noting that drivers with certain types of cargo, such as some hazardous materials, are limited to crossing on the Ambassador Bridge. The slowdown in Canadian trade will disproportionately affect New York, Michigan and Ohio, said Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. At the same time, he added, the protests were “certainly raising concerns for all U.S. manufacturers.” “There is already a shortage of truck drivers in North America, so protests keeping truckers off their routes exacerbates problems for an already fragile supply chain,” Wheaton said. Carmakers had hoped that shortages of computer chips and other components would ease this year, allowing them to concentrate on the long term: the transition to electric vehicles. A larger fear for many elected officials and business executives is that the scene at the Ambassador Bridge could inspire other protests. The Department of Homeland Security warned in an internal memo that a convoy of protesting truckers was planning to travel from California to Washington, D.C., potentially disrupting the Super Bowl and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address March 1. “While there are currently no indications of planned violence,” the memo, which was dated Tuesday, said, “if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities and emergency services through gridlock and potential counter protests.” Chiodo, the Canadian union leader, said that “the people who are demonstrating are doing it for the wrong reasons. They want to get back to the way things were before the pandemic, and in reality, they are shutting things down.” The scene in Ottawa remained a raucous party Thursday, with hundreds of people on the street, many wearing Canadian flags like capes. The song “Life Is a Highway,” by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane, pumped from loudspeakers set up on the back of an empty trailer that had been converted into a stage. But there was a thinning out of protesters — with some empty spaces where trucks had been the day before. Johnny Neufeld, 39, a long-haul trucker from Windsor, said the vaccine mandate would spell the end of his job transporting molds into the United States since he had chosen not to be inoculated out of fear the shots had been developed too quickly. He got his first ticket from police Thursday morning, a fine of 130 Canadian dollars (about $100) for being in a no-stopping zone. “This is a souvenir,” he said.

Canadian trucker protests snarl an already hobbled auto industry

Paris&nbsp;police said Thursday they would ban so-called "freedom convoys" inspired by a truckers' protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralysed the Canadian capital Ottawa.

Convoys of vehicles from across France are expected to converge on the French capital on Friday, risking a possible standoff with the police similar to the violent "yellow vest" protests that rocked the country in 2018.

A repeat of the "yellow vests" -- a nationwide movement against social inequality -- would be unwelcome for President Emmanuel Macron as he prepares for April 2022 elections he remains favourite to win.

"There will be a special deployment... to prevent blockages of major roads, issue tickets and arrest those who infringe on this protest ban," the&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;police force said in a statement.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trudeau-slams-canada-trucker-protests-police-threaten-arrests-451963">&nbsp;Trudeau slams Canada trucker protests, police threaten arrests</a>

The city's ban order will remain in force from Friday to Monday, while police recalled that people blocking roads faced up to two years in prison, a fine of 4,500 euros ($5,140) and a three-year exclusion from driving.

Thousands of people opposed to France's vaccine pass, which restricts access to much of public life to those with the Covid-19 jab, have said on social media that they would rally in&nbsp;Paris.

Some plan to continue on to European Union capital Brussels on Monday.

&nbsp;'An aberration'&nbsp;

The movement is "far from having a solid structure" but "this especially media-friendly new form of action could give new momentum to different protest groups," a police report seen by broadcaster RTL and newspaper Le Parisien said earlier this week.

A&nbsp;number of convoys of cars, vans and motorbikes set off from around France on Wednesday, inspired by the two-week blockade of central Ottawa by truckers angry at testing and vaccine requirements for crossing the border with the US.

Eyhande Abeberry, 52, a participant at the send-off in the southern French city of Bayonne, told AFP that the vaccine pass was "an aberration".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-to-buy-french-warplanes-as-paris-boosts-asia-alliances-452033">Indonesia to buy French warplanes as Paris boosts Asia alliances</a>

But as in Canada, where the protest has broadened from the issues that first triggered it, others including purchasing power and energy costs have motivated some French participants.

Those were also at the root of the "yellow vests" demonstrations.

With an election first round coming on April 10, Macron's government has already mobilised billions of euros to limit the impact on households of surging gas and petrol prices.

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that she "understood" the protesters' goals, saying that it was "another form of the yellow vests" demonstrations.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said he recognised the public's "weariness" with infection control measures, but insisted that France had been among the European countries with "the fewest restrictions that infringe on citizens' freedom".

In a nod to public impatience ahead of the elections with France's tough Covid rules, Attal also indicated that the country may be in a position to drop its obligatory vaccine pass in late March or early April as cases fall.

&nbsp;

Paris police said Thursday they would ban so-called "freedom convoys" inspired by a truckers' protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralysed the Canadian capital Ottawa.

Paris police said Thursday they would ban so-called "freedom convoys" inspired by a truckers' protest against coronavirus restrictions that has paralysed the Canadian capital Ottawa. Convoys of vehicles from across France are expected to converge on the French capital on Friday, risking a possible standoff with the police similar to the violent "yellow vest" protests that rocked the country in 2018. A repeat of the "yellow vests" -- a nationwide movement against social inequality -- would be unwelcome for President Emmanuel Macron as he prepares for April 2022 elections he remains favourite to win. "There will be a special deployment... to prevent blockages of major roads, issue tickets and arrest those who infringe on this protest ban," the Paris police force said in a statement. Also read | Trudeau slams Canada trucker protests, police threaten arrests The city's ban order will remain in force from Friday to Monday, while police recalled that people blocking roads faced up to two years in prison, a fine of 4,500 euros ($5,140) and a three-year exclusion from driving. Thousands of people opposed to France's vaccine pass, which restricts access to much of public life to those with the Covid-19 jab, have said on social media that they would rally in Paris. Some plan to continue on to European Union capital Brussels on Monday. 'An aberration' The movement is "far from having a solid structure" but "this especially media-friendly new form of action could give new momentum to different protest groups," a police report seen by broadcaster RTL and newspaper Le Parisien said earlier this week. A number of convoys of cars, vans and motorbikes set off from around France on Wednesday, inspired by the two-week blockade of central Ottawa by truckers angry at testing and vaccine requirements for crossing the border with the US. Eyhande Abeberry, 52, a participant at the send-off in the southern French city of Bayonne, told AFP that the vaccine pass was "an aberration". Also read | Indonesia to buy French warplanes as Paris boosts Asia alliances But as in Canada, where the protest has broadened from the issues that first triggered it, others including purchasing power and energy costs have motivated some French participants. Those were also at the root of the "yellow vests" demonstrations. With an election first round coming on April 10, Macron's government has already mobilised billions of euros to limit the impact on households of surging gas and petrol prices. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said that she "understood" the protesters' goals, saying that it was "another form of the yellow vests" demonstrations. Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said he recognised the public's "weariness" with infection control measures, but insisted that France had been among the European countries with "the fewest restrictions that infringe on citizens' freedom". In a nod to public impatience ahead of the elections with France's tough Covid rules, Attal also indicated that the country may be in a position to drop its obligatory vaccine pass in late March or early April as cases fall.

Paris bans Canada-style Covid 'freedom convoys'

The protests by truckers in Canada against Covid restrictions have hit the two-week mark. Protesters have shut down central Ottawa and also disrupted cross-border trade while Canadian police threatened to arrest truckers led protests. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has slammed the movement as unacceptable.

Two weeks of Canada truckers protest, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau calls it unacceptable

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at the truckers protesting against the Covid-19 vaccine mandate in the country as “unacceptable”. Also he called the truck blockades a threat to economy.

Justin Trudeau slams truckers' protest, calls truck blockades a threat to economy

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau slams truckers' protest, calls truck blockades a threat to economy

Canadian truckers have vowed to prolong anti-vaccine protests against the government. Meanwhile, the key US-Canada Trade link has been clogged.

Key US-Canada Trade link clogged as demonstrating truckers show no sign of backing down

Truck drivers protesting in Canada continue to partially block the busy Ambassador Bridge linking the United States and Canada. The bridge is the busiest crossing, comprising 25% of annual trade between the two countries.

Truckers' protests block US-Canada trade bridge, to impact supply chains, economy

Justin Trudeau has asked the protesting anti-vax truckers to disband amid reports of violence in the Canadian capital. The 'Freedom Convoy' has started inspiring similar protests in New Zealand and Australia. Palki Sharma tells you how Trudeau's failed response has emboldened anti-vaxxers.

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Trudeau tweets from his secret hide-out amid trucker protest

Inspired by Canada protests, hundreds of people on Tuesday blocked roads outside New Zealand's parliament against vaccine mandates and restrictions applied in the country. Most protestors were unmasked and held placards calling for freedom.

Protestors block streets against vaccine mandates in New Zealand

Truckers paralyzing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules showed no sign of backing down Tuesday, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest.

With authorities struggling to bring the protest movement to heel, Saskatchewan in the country's west said Tuesday it was ready to lift all pandemic restrictions, with Quebec and Alberta also signalling plans to ease measures.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beyond-tragic-who-reports-130-million-cases-and-500000-deaths-linked-to-omicron-451604" hreflang="en">'Beyond tragic': WHO reports 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths linked to Omicron</a>

In the capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- who a day earlier issued a stern warning the protests "had to stop" -- appeared to shift tone, saying he understood "how frustrated everyone is" and that "the time is coming when we will be able to relax."

"We're all sick and tired of restrictions, of mandates, of having to make sacrifices," Trudeau said, adding, however, that vaccine mandates were the "way to avoid further restrictions."

The so-called "Freedom Convoy" began in January in western Canada -- launched in anger at the requirements that truckers either be vaccinated or test and isolate, when crossing the US-Canadian border.

Having snowballed into an occupation of the Canadian capital, the protest has sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad, and by Tuesday had forced the temporary closure of a key US border bridge, the busiest international land-border crossing in North America.

Amid a state of emergency in Ottawa, federal police have deployed among demonstrators waving Canadian flags and anti-Trudeau placards in protests now in their second week and fast becoming a rallying cry for far-right and anti-vaccine groups.

Briefing reporters Tuesday, Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Steve Bell said his agents had made 22 arrests to date.

"Our message to demonstrators remains the same: Don't come. And if you do, there will be consequences," he said.

'Fed up'&nbsp;

Under light snowfall, the truckers have been warming themselves by open pit fires and playing street hockey.

Since a court-ordered their incessant loud honking to stop, they have turned instead to revving the engines of their big rigs.

Police say some of the truckers have brought their children, making any evacuation more complex -- especially as some have removed their tires and others have modified their brakes to immobilise their trucks.

Protester Martin Desforges, 46, told AFP he was determined to stay "until the end," which organizers said would come only when all pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-canada-new-zealand-truckers-protest-against-covid-vaccine-mandates-block-parliament-451554" hreflang="en">After Canada, New Zealand truckers protest against Covid vaccine mandates, block parliament</a>

"I'm against wearing a mask, all distancing measures and restaurant closures," he said.

"Getting vaccinated should be a decision between a person and their doctor," echoed fellow protester John Hawley-Wight, "not the government."

More than 80 per cent of Canadians aged five and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

"We're all fed up," said Francois Legault, premier of Quebec province, which announced it would lift most Covid restrictions by mid-March, with hospitalizations now trending downward.

"Right now, we can take a calculated risk and finally turn the page," he said.

Saskatchewan and Alberta announced a lifting in coming weeks of Covid restrictions, including requiring testing or proof of vaccine status for businesses and public venues -- saying the "policy has run its course."

'Living in fear'&nbsp;

From the original opposition to vaccine requirements, the trucker movement has morphed into a broader protest against Covid-related restrictions and Trudeau's Liberal government and put a spotlight on pandemic curbs around the world.

US and Canadian business groups on Tuesday demanded protesters end their blockade of the vital Ambassador Bridge trade route connecting Ontario province and the US state of Michigan.

"We cannot allow any group to undermine the cross-border trade that supports families on both sides of the border," said a joint statement.

Another key US-Canada trade link has also been clogged by protestors for several days, with Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra warning a prolonged blockade "will have serious implications on our economy, on our supply chain."

Watch |&nbsp;Key US-Canada Trade link clogged as demonstrating truckers show no sign of backing down

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/key-us-canada-trade-link-clogged-as-demonstrating-truckers-show-no-sign-of-backing-down-451619/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Inspired by the Canada protests, a convoy of trucks and campervans blocked streets near New Zealand's parliament in Wellington Tuesday to protest against Covid measures, while calls have multiplied on social media for similar rallies in Europe and the United States.

The truckers have received US support, including from former president Donald Trump, while at home, according to a Leger poll, 44 per cent of vaccinated Canadians sympathise with their "concerns and frustrations."

That does not include everyone in Ottawa, however.

"In a democracy, everyone has the right to have a different opinion and the right to express it," Cedric Boyer, 48, a Frenchman living in the capital, told AFP.&nbsp;

"It's the moment when some people's freedom infringes on others'" that there's a problem, he added.

Truckers paralyzing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules showed no sign of backing down Tuesday, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest.

Truckers paralyzing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules showed no sign of backing down Tuesday, as several of the nation's provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world's toughest. With authorities struggling to bring the protest movement to heel, Saskatchewan in the country's west said Tuesday it was ready to lift all pandemic restrictions, with Quebec and Alberta also signalling plans to ease measures. Also read | 'Beyond tragic': WHO reports 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths linked to Omicron In the capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- who a day earlier issued a stern warning the protests "had to stop" -- appeared to shift tone, saying he understood "how frustrated everyone is" and that "the time is coming when we will be able to relax." "We're all sick and tired of restrictions, of mandates, of having to make sacrifices," Trudeau said, adding, however, that vaccine mandates were the "way to avoid further restrictions." The so-called "Freedom Convoy" began in January in western Canada -- launched in anger at the requirements that truckers either be vaccinated or test and isolate, when crossing the US-Canadian border. Having snowballed into an occupation of the Canadian capital, the protest has sparked solidarity rallies across the nation and abroad, and by Tuesday had forced the temporary closure of a key US border bridge, the busiest international land-border crossing in North America. Amid a state of emergency in Ottawa, federal police have deployed among demonstrators waving Canadian flags and anti-Trudeau placards in protests now in their second week and fast becoming a rallying cry for far-right and anti-vaccine groups. Briefing reporters Tuesday, Ottawa Deputy Police Chief Steve Bell said his agents had made 22 arrests to date. "Our message to demonstrators remains the same: Don't come. And if you do, there will be consequences," he said. 'Fed up' Under light snowfall, the truckers have been warming themselves by open pit fires and playing street hockey. Since a court-ordered their incessant loud honking to stop, they have turned instead to revving the engines of their big rigs. Police say some of the truckers have brought their children, making any evacuation more complex -- especially as some have removed their tires and others have modified their brakes to immobilise their trucks. Protester Martin Desforges, 46, told AFP he was determined to stay "until the end," which organizers said would come only when all pandemic restrictions were lifted. Also read | After Canada, New Zealand truckers protest against Covid vaccine mandates, block parliament "I'm against wearing a mask, all distancing measures and restaurant closures," he said. "Getting vaccinated should be a decision between a person and their doctor," echoed fellow protester John Hawley-Wight, "not the government." More than 80 per cent of Canadians aged five and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. "We're all fed up," said Francois Legault, premier of Quebec province, which announced it would lift most Covid restrictions by mid-March, with hospitalizations now trending downward. "Right now, we can take a calculated risk and finally turn the page," he said. Saskatchewan and Alberta announced a lifting in coming weeks of Covid restrictions, including requiring testing or proof of vaccine status for businesses and public venues -- saying the "policy has run its course." 'Living in fear' From the original opposition to vaccine requirements, the trucker movement has morphed into a broader protest against Covid-related restrictions and Trudeau's Liberal government and put a spotlight on pandemic curbs around the world. US and Canadian business groups on Tuesday demanded protesters end their blockade of the vital Ambassador Bridge trade route connecting Ontario province and the US state of Michigan. "We cannot allow any group to undermine the cross-border trade that supports families on both sides of the border," said a joint statement. Another key US-Canada trade link has also been clogged by protestors for several days, with Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra warning a prolonged blockade "will have serious implications on our economy, on our supply chain." Watch | Key US-Canada Trade link clogged as demonstrating truckers show no sign of backing down Inspired by the Canada protests, a convoy of trucks and campervans blocked streets near New Zealand's parliament in Wellington Tuesday to protest against Covid measures, while calls have multiplied on social media for similar rallies in Europe and the United States. The truckers have received US support, including from former president Donald Trump, while at home, according to a Leger poll, 44 per cent of vaccinated Canadians sympathise with their "concerns and frustrations." That does not include everyone in Ottawa, however. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to have a different opinion and the right to express it," Cedric Boyer, 48, a Frenchman living in the capital, told AFP. "It's the moment when some people's freedom infringes on others'" that there's a problem, he added.

As trucker protests intensify, Canada's provinces move to ease Covid rules

After Canada's capital Ottawa declared a state of emergency, police authorities have now seen thousands of liters of fuel and have removed the oil tankers as part of a crackdown to end an 11 day old protest against COVID-19 mandates. The freedom convoy consisting of truckers mainly started as a movement against a Canadian vaccine requirement for cross-border drivers.

Canadian police cracks down on truckers, warned against honking

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday emerged from isolation and asserted that the truckers' protest had to stop. He also took to Twitter and wrote that Canadians have the right to protest, disagree with their government, and make their voices heard. But, they can't interfere with the country's economy, democracy, or fellow citizens’ daily lives.

PM Trudeau demands for an end to truckers' protest in Canada

A state of emergency has been declared in Ottawa. The city's mayor says, protests have gone 'out of control'. GoFundMe has blocked $10 million raised as donations for the protesters. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has slammed the platform for 'double standards'. Palki Sharma gets you a report

Gravitas Ukraine Direct: Elon Musk shows support to Canadian Truckers

In the ongoing protest in Ottawa, the truckers have been ordered to stop honking the horns. The protest has snarled up the city. &nbsp;

The protesters have been using loud and constant blare of truck horns in the protest to get attention. The movement has been started against the vaccine mandates in Canada. &nbsp;

Judge Hugh McLean has now ordered the horns to be silenced for the next 10 days. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/does-paracetamols-use-pose-any-risk-study-makes-the-striking-revelation-451403" hreflang="en">Does paracetamol’s use pose any risk? Study makes the striking revelation</a>

In Monday's ruling, Justice McLean said, "Tooting a horn is not an expression of any great thought I'm aware of." &nbsp;

It can be seen as an interim victory to residents. &nbsp;

The honking by around 400 to 500 trucks had been giving sleepless nights to the local people and business owners, sparking anger. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/1200-year-old-pub-shutters-over-covid-induced-issues-in-uk-451375" hreflang="en">1,200-year-old pub shutters over Covid-induced issues in UK</a>

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is currently isolating himself after testing positive for coronavirus, has called the actions of the protesters an "insult to truth and memory". &nbsp;&nbsp;

Through an open letter to Trudeau on Monday, Ottawa's mayor asked for an urgent deployment of 1,800 law enforcement officers to end the "aggressive and hateful occupation". &nbsp;

Mayor Jim Watson wrote, "People are living in fear and terrified - and they've now been subjected to the non-stop honking of large trucks for nine days, which is tantamount to psychological warfare." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In the ongoing protest in Ottawa, the truckers have been ordered to stop honking the horns. The protest has snarled up the city. The protesters have been using loud and constant blare of truck horns in the protest to get attention.

In the ongoing protest in Ottawa, the truckers have been ordered to stop honking the horns. The protest has snarled up the city. The protesters have been using loud and constant blare of truck horns in the protest to get attention. The movement has been started against the vaccine mandates in Canada. Judge Hugh McLean has now ordered the horns to be silenced for the next 10 days. Also Read: Does paracetamol’s use pose any risk? Study makes the striking revelation In Monday's ruling, Justice McLean said, "Tooting a horn is not an expression of any great thought I'm aware of." It can be seen as an interim victory to residents. The honking by around 400 to 500 trucks had been giving sleepless nights to the local people and business owners, sparking anger. Also Read: 1,200-year-old pub shutters over Covid-induced issues in UK Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is currently isolating himself after testing positive for coronavirus, has called the actions of the protesters an "insult to truth and memory". Through an open letter to Trudeau on Monday, Ottawa's mayor asked for an urgent deployment of 1,800 law enforcement officers to end the "aggressive and hateful occupation". Mayor Jim Watson wrote, "People are living in fear and terrified - and they've now been subjected to the non-stop honking of large trucks for nine days, which is tantamount to psychological warfare." (With inputs from agencies)

No honking please! Canada’s judge ‘silences’ truckers protest, brings relief to residents

The mayor of the Canadian capital Ottawa imposed a state of national emergency amid the truckers protest over Covid-19 vaccine mandate. According to the Mayor Jim Watson, the state of emergency is aimed at dealing with the unprecedented protests.

Canada: Ottawa declares state of emergency as truckers protest escalates

Trucker's dead protest against covid-19 mandates in Canada has entered its 10th day. Protests have left the Canadian capital paralyzed with much of the core of Ottawa shut down. Ottowa mayor has declared a state of emergency to deal with unprecedented protest.

Canada: Day 10 of anti covid-19 mandate protests, state of emergency declared in Ottawa

In Canada the tucker's protest is growing in size and in strength. The demonstrations that initially began as peaceful protests against the coronavirus mandate in Ottawa are now threatening to spread to other Canadian cities like Toronto and Quebec over the weekend.

Canada truckers' protest against COVID mandates enters the second week

The protests against Covid 19 mandates in Canada have entered the second week and in the last 14 days, the Canada truckers protest has only grown in size and strength.

Canada: Hundreds rally against the Covid 19 vaccine mandates in Toronto

Thousands of protesters across Canada took to the streets Saturday for the second weekend in a row, snarling traffic, disrupting business and residential neighborhoods and leading police to compare the demonstrations to a “siege” on the nation’s democracy.

What began last month with truckers complaining about mandated vaccines for crossing the border from the United States has grown into a catchall movement for a variety of anti-government causes, laying bare deep resentments within Canada’s political right.

While police and officials braced for rowdy crowds and potential violence, the atmosphere of the demonstrations by Saturday evening, though boisterous, remained mostly peaceful and festive.

But police in Ottawa, the capital, admitted they were overwhelmed by the crowds and warned that the noisy and disruptive protests posed a real threat.

“This is a siege. It is something that is different in our democracy than I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said Peter Sloly, chief of the Ottawa Police. “We do not have sufficient resources to adequately and effectively address this situation,” while tending to routine policing, he added.

In Ottawa, despite frigid temperatures, a band performed on the street in front of Parliament Hill underneath a Canadian flag dangling from a large construction crane. Nearby, several inflatable bouncy castles were set up, and makeshift canteens throughout downtown dispensed food.

While there were no serious injuries or uncontrolled violence associated with the demonstrations over the past week, they have nevertheless paralyzed Ottawa’s downtown core with traffic, noise and complaints of harassment.

“I’m receiving hundreds — and I’m not exaggerating — hundreds of emails telling me: ‘I went out to get groceries, I got yelled at, I got harassed. I got followed down the street, I’m so afraid that I can’t go out,’” Catherine McKenney, the city councilor for the area, said Thursday afternoon.

The Ottawa Police said on Twitter on Saturday that they had received 400 calls related to the demonstrations since they began, resulting in 50 investigations and four people being charged.

Throughout the area, many businesses have been closed for days, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in lost sales. Those that have remained open have struggled to enforce provincial mask rules.

About 200 to 250 trucks remained downtown from last Saturday’s demonstration, their drivers frequently honking their air horns. Supporters have been delivering diesel fuel to the truckers, who have stacked firewood in parks and built a small wooden canteen building next to a canal that serves as a popular skating rink in the winter.

Many residents of downtown Ottawa have turned their frustrations on the city’s police for not aggressively shutting down the protests.

Workers blocked some major roads downtown with concrete barriers Friday as part of a new “surge and contain strategy” that Chief Peter Sloly of the Ottawa Police announced. “The surge will deliver a clear message to the demonstrators: The lawlessness must end,” he said. “Our goal is to end the demonstrations.”

In Toronto, dozens of cars, pickup trucks and heavy trucks were parked along the city’s high-end shopping district downtown by midday, north of the closed-off legislature building area, with sounds of horns and shouts of “freedom” ringing out. Protesters held up signs of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and used hockey sticks as flagpoles for Canadian flags and Gadsden flags.

The Toronto Police announced that they had arrested one man for assault with a weapon, and told the public to steer clear of the demonstrations.

Corey Ley, owner of a landscape construction company, drove from his home in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region about 85 miles northeast of Toronto to attend Saturday’s demonstration with his wife, two children and two friends. Ley said they packed plenty of provisions to remain at the site, including food, fuel and water. “I’m here until whenever, as long as it takes,” said Ley, who said he wanted proof-of-vaccination and mask policies to be optional rather mandated.

In Quebec City, dozens of tractor-trailer cabs were parked two deep for three blocks along one of the major arteries through the downtown area, adjacent to the provincial legislature. Thousands of people lined the sidewalks, cheering on truckers as they arrived or drove past, and a large crowd gathered in front of the legislature, dancing and trying to stay warm as they listened to a series of speakers.

David LeBlanc, a biologist from Matapédia, said it was time for the government to lift pandemic restrictions. “Our children are impacted,” he said. “My son is 18 years old. He could not have a trip with his friends at high school. He could not get in the bar to have fun with his friends.”

Bruno Marchand, the city’s mayor, said Friday that he had confidence in the police’s ability to keep order, noting that the city deals with 100 protests a year.

“If they have a cause they have to do it respectfully. This is the only way to be listened to and understood,” he told reporters. “Otherwise, police officers will have to do their jobs.”

Truck convoys of varying sizes congregated in protest near provincial legislatures in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. A group of truckers continued to block a border crossing to the United States in Alberta. Counterprotesters laid on streets to block a truck convoy as it entered Vancouver, British Columbia.

Through GoFundMe, some of the organizers of the truck convoy raised 10 million Canadian dollars, about $7.8 million, but the online service has only turned over about C$1 million of that. On Friday evening, it said in a statement that after speaking with police, it would not release any more of the money.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” GoFundMe said.

Thousands of protesters across Canada took to the streets Saturday for the second weekend in a row, snarling traffic, disrupting business and residential neighborhoods and leading police to compare the demonstrations to a “siege” on the nation’s democracy.

Thousands of protesters across Canada took to the streets Saturday for the second weekend in a row, snarling traffic, disrupting business and residential neighborhoods and leading police to compare the demonstrations to a “siege” on the nation’s democracy. What began last month with truckers complaining about mandated vaccines for crossing the border from the United States has grown into a catchall movement for a variety of anti-government causes, laying bare deep resentments within Canada’s political right. While police and officials braced for rowdy crowds and potential violence, the atmosphere of the demonstrations by Saturday evening, though boisterous, remained mostly peaceful and festive. But police in Ottawa, the capital, admitted they were overwhelmed by the crowds and warned that the noisy and disruptive protests posed a real threat. “This is a siege. It is something that is different in our democracy than I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said Peter Sloly, chief of the Ottawa Police. “We do not have sufficient resources to adequately and effectively address this situation,” while tending to routine policing, he added. In Ottawa, despite frigid temperatures, a band performed on the street in front of Parliament Hill underneath a Canadian flag dangling from a large construction crane. Nearby, several inflatable bouncy castles were set up, and makeshift canteens throughout downtown dispensed food. While there were no serious injuries or uncontrolled violence associated with the demonstrations over the past week, they have nevertheless paralyzed Ottawa’s downtown core with traffic, noise and complaints of harassment. “I’m receiving hundreds — and I’m not exaggerating — hundreds of emails telling me: ‘I went out to get groceries, I got yelled at, I got harassed. I got followed down the street, I’m so afraid that I can’t go out,’” Catherine McKenney, the city councilor for the area, said Thursday afternoon. The Ottawa Police said on Twitter on Saturday that they had received 400 calls related to the demonstrations since they began, resulting in 50 investigations and four people being charged. Throughout the area, many businesses have been closed for days, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in lost sales. Those that have remained open have struggled to enforce provincial mask rules. About 200 to 250 trucks remained downtown from last Saturday’s demonstration, their drivers frequently honking their air horns. Supporters have been delivering diesel fuel to the truckers, who have stacked firewood in parks and built a small wooden canteen building next to a canal that serves as a popular skating rink in the winter. Many residents of downtown Ottawa have turned their frustrations on the city’s police for not aggressively shutting down the protests. Workers blocked some major roads downtown with concrete barriers Friday as part of a new “surge and contain strategy” that Chief Peter Sloly of the Ottawa Police announced. “The surge will deliver a clear message to the demonstrators: The lawlessness must end,” he said. “Our goal is to end the demonstrations.” In Toronto, dozens of cars, pickup trucks and heavy trucks were parked along the city’s high-end shopping district downtown by midday, north of the closed-off legislature building area, with sounds of horns and shouts of “freedom” ringing out. Protesters held up signs of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and used hockey sticks as flagpoles for Canadian flags and Gadsden flags. The Toronto Police announced that they had arrested one man for assault with a weapon, and told the public to steer clear of the demonstrations. Corey Ley, owner of a landscape construction company, drove from his home in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region about 85 miles northeast of Toronto to attend Saturday’s demonstration with his wife, two children and two friends. Ley said they packed plenty of provisions to remain at the site, including food, fuel and water. “I’m here until whenever, as long as it takes,” said Ley, who said he wanted proof-of-vaccination and mask policies to be optional rather mandated. In Quebec City, dozens of tractor-trailer cabs were parked two deep for three blocks along one of the major arteries through the downtown area, adjacent to the provincial legislature. Thousands of people lined the sidewalks, cheering on truckers as they arrived or drove past, and a large crowd gathered in front of the legislature, dancing and trying to stay warm as they listened to a series of speakers. David LeBlanc, a biologist from Matapédia, said it was time for the government to lift pandemic restrictions. “Our children are impacted,” he said. “My son is 18 years old. He could not have a trip with his friends at high school. He could not get in the bar to have fun with his friends.” Bruno Marchand, the city’s mayor, said Friday that he had confidence in the police’s ability to keep order, noting that the city deals with 100 protests a year. “If they have a cause they have to do it respectfully. This is the only way to be listened to and understood,” he told reporters. “Otherwise, police officers will have to do their jobs.” Truck convoys of varying sizes congregated in protest near provincial legislatures in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. A group of truckers continued to block a border crossing to the United States in Alberta. Counterprotesters laid on streets to block a truck convoy as it entered Vancouver, British Columbia. Through GoFundMe, some of the organizers of the truck convoy raised 10 million Canadian dollars, about $7.8 million, but the online service has only turned over about C$1 million of that. On Friday evening, it said in a statement that after speaking with police, it would not release any more of the money. “We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” GoFundMe said.

Truck protest against pandemic measures spreads across Canada

Canada truckers protest escalate: Police vow crackdown on protest

Canada's Freedom Convoy protest is growing in size & strength. Truckers have gridlocked Canada's capital Ottawa. The movement is no longer just about Covid restrictions but also against PM Justin Trudeau's leadership.

Thousands march on street of Ottawa, Sikh protesters join truckers

Canada's Truckers protest refuse to die down. Sikhs have joined truckers in demonstrations against the Canadian Govt. Canada's leader of Opposition Candice Bergen wants Justin Trudeau to apologise for derogating the motives of protesters. Molly Gambhir gets you a report.

Gravitas: Canada's Freedom Convoy grows in strength

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