A convoy of Canadian truckers has made its way to Ottawa today for a planned protest in which they have stated their intention to "gridlock" the city until the Trudeau government lifts vaccine mandate requirements for the trucking industry.
And gridlock the city they have. Footage shot by Beth Baisch in Ottawa on Saturday shows blocks and blocks of trucks lining the streets. Protestors are marching through sub zero temperatures to express their anger at the Trudeau government.
Trucks stretched for several blocks as protestors continued to gather at Parliament Hill. Protestors brought signs, music, and an incredible cacophony of honking horns as they stood bundled in the snow against the cold.
Truckers led the crowd in singing "O Canada" at Ottawa's Parliament Hill.
A trucker with the Freedom Convoy leads the growing crowd in a round of O Canada at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 29, 2022
Footage by @PuffinsPictures pic.twitter.com/5fm32vgcOt
Many protestors expressed their intense displeasure with Trudeau, in signs and chants.
The scene in Ottawa. I get the impression people here don’t like Trudeau. ?#freedomconvoy22 pic.twitter.com/1Re5RYkMRD
— Beth Baisch ? (@PuffinsPictures) January 29, 2022
On Friday night, before the day the protest was set to begin, protestors were already lining the streets with their trucks.
Protestors and trucks are currently gathered outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa ahead of Saturday’s Freedom Convoy protest.
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 29, 2022
Footage by @PuffinsPictures pic.twitter.com/sOb6kPYiIl
Trudeau has come out in opposition to the truckers and their demands, while Conservative leader Erin O'Toole has essentially hedged his bets, and MP Pierre Poilievre has spoken in support of those truckers who, once lauded as heroes for keeping Canadians' grocery store shelves stocked during the pandemic, are now vilified by leaders and media alike.
Trudeau is working from home this week after a Covid exposure. He has since said that he is in isolation following a positive Covid test for one of his children.
But the people have been voicing their full-throated support, including Dr. Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and many Canadians.