In the conference rooms of downtown Ottawa hotels, an ever-changing cast of characters has stepped up to speak for the convoy of protesters camped out on Parliament’s doorstep.
But a recent statement from convoy organizers confirms that the truckers and others demanding an end to COVID-19 public-health restrictions have three main leaders: Chris Barber, Tamara Lich and Benjamin Dichter.
Go incognito
OTTAWA – Police in Windsor, Ont., were locked in an apparent standoff with protesters clogging a key trade artery between the United States and Canada on Saturday, even as demonstrations against COVID-19 public health measures continued in Ottawa and other cities across the country.
Officers with the Windsor Police Service, the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and others began moving in on protesters near the Ambassador Bridge around mid-morning after a court-ordered deadline for clearing the site passed – and was largely ignored – on Friday evening.
Trucks Are Gone From #AmbassadorBridge but More Protesters Arrive on Foot
A growing group of demonstrators continues to protest near Ambassador Bridge despite a large police presence pushing them back#FreedomConvoy2022 #TruckersConvoy2022 #TruckersForFreedom2022 #greenpass pic.twitter.com/ojUHWR3b7m— ★ GNI ★ GAIA NEWS INTERNATIONAL (@GaiaNewsIntl) February 12, 2022
One of the interesting aspects of the ongoing Freedom Convoy protests in Canada, aside from the underlying complaints of the protesters, is the curious way that the media in both that nation and the United States have chosen to construct a narrative around the protesters. This is something that others like Tucker Carlson have been noticing and pushing back against. One of the most recent examples can be found in this “explainer” from NBC News published on Thursday evening. They have clearly chosen to lump all of the protesters together as some sort of Trumpesque, Canadian “far right-wing” splinter group of extremists.
With the ongoing trucker protests that have rocked Ottawa and several other Canadian cities and jurisdictions, it is reasonable to say that we’ve reached the peak of the politicization of this pandemic.
Something like this was bound to happen.
The support the protest has garnered is clearly a product of frustrations that have reached a tipping point after two years of botched pandemic responses. The two main ingredients of it are manifestly the collapse in trust in institutions and the astonishing lack of self-awareness of our politicians that continues to fuel it.
Police have intercepted hundreds of vehicles trying to enter Paris as part of a protest against France’s coronavirus regulations.
Authorities have deployed more than 7,000 officers over the next three days in a bid to stop the demonstrators.
Some vehicles managed to arrive at the Arc de Triomphe in the city, and tear gas was fired at demonstrators on the nearby Champs-Élysées.
Similar demonstrations have started to spread around the world.
FRANCE: Police smash the window of a convoy for freedom vehicle on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. pic.twitter.com/iTvVHgsh1V
— Apex World News (@apexworldnews) February 12, 2022
The official response to the truckers protesting COVID restrictions is one of the most disgraceful political episodes in the history of Canada as an autonomous country. The prime minister’s statement that the truckers were probably homophobic, trans-phobic, misogynists and racists was an outrage that was unsupported by evidence.
Cornwall, ON / Massena, NY border crossing this morning pic.twitter.com/DPCc31Nity
— Jason “Fringe Minority” Pichie (@JasonPichie) February 12, 2022
Protesters gathered at Parliament House in the Australian capital, Canberra on Saturday, demanding an end to coronavirus measures. The demonstrators, who arrived by truck, car, and bus over the last week, had camped at a nearby festival ground.
For a second straight weekend, the city’s downtown core is a locked-down maze of blocked streets.
In an effort to avoid what has taken root in the nation’s capital, Toronto Police are not taking any chances.
They will have extra powers this weekend due to the state of emergency declared by Premier Doug Ford.
Meanwhile in Windsor
Even though police have been moving in on protesters in Windsor, pushing them back, the crowd size actually seems to be growing. More protesters are arriving and few are leaving. pic.twitter.com/zC44VwqtUA
— Thomas Daigle (@thomasdaigle) February 12, 2022
In a recent interview with German newspaper Die Welt, the doctor dug in on her refusal to follow the Western bureaucratic directive, saying they tried to censor the truth, and silence her.
The last time I’ve seen numbers close to this were in the final days of Brian Mulroney,’ says Maru pollster
As Freedom Convoy marks its second week entrenched in the Canadian capital, a new poll is providing some of the clearest evidence yet that this affair could end up dealing a catastrophic blow to the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Is Trudeau losing his fight against truckers?
As anti-vaccine mandate protests drag on in Ottawa and spread to border crossings across the country, threatening trade, the Canadian prime minister is facing growing pressure to step in.
Before they had reached the national capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to the convoy of truckers and their like-minded supporters as a “small fringe minority”.
Two weeks later, he’s facing a spiralling crisis.
Alberta not following Ontario’s lead with state of emergency over protest, blockade: Kenney
The Alberta government won’t be following Ontario’s lead in declaring a state of emergency to address the ongoing trucker convoy protest and bridge blockade, says premier Jason Kenney.
In an interview on CTV’s Question Period airing Sunday, Kenney said the province already has the necessary laws in place to take action if necessary.
OTTAWA — Nadine Ellis-Maffei thought the knock at the door of her farmhouse was someone who spotted one of her livestock getting loose.
She said she never dreamed it would be the “thought police and Big Brother.”
Or, in this case, Big Sister.
Ontario reports 35 more COVID-19 deaths; hospitalizations continue to decline
Ontario reported 35 more COVID-19 deaths on Saturday as hospitalizations continue to steadily decline.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health says the deaths occurred over the past 24 days, with three deaths yesterday, eight on Feb. 10 and four on Feb. 9.
The virus-related death toll stands at 12,075.
414 people are in ICU with #COVID19. 81% of patients admitted to the ICU were admitted for COVID-19 and 19% were admitted for other reasons but have tested positive for COVID-19.
There are 2,944 new cases of COVID-19.
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) February 12, 2022
Effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters wanes over time but remains strong, U.S. study suggests
An early look at the performance of COVID-19 booster shots during the recent Omicron wave in the U.S. showed a decline in effectiveness against severe cases, though the shots still offered strong protection.
The report, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, is considered an early and limited look at the durability of booster protection during the Omicron surge that exploded in December and January but has been fading in recent weeks.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the City of Ottawa are constantly looking at new and adventurous ways to remove the freedom convoy from the nation’s capitol but the truckers keep outsmarting and outmaneuvering them at every turn. The Ottawa Police Service is repeatedly warning the truckers that they are going to be raided.
The truckers have not responded to these threats with any incendiary language or violence and watching the action first hand, one is impressed at how much the convoy is actually doing to improve situations in the city, offering free food and clothing to homeless people.
The Windsor Police have commenced enforcement near the Ambassador Bridge, Windsor, Ont.
In a tweet Saturday morning, the department confirmed the same and said, “We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully and peacefully. Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.”
Truly surreal scene in Windsor as police close in on protesters while loud Sam Smith music plays over the speakers pic.twitter.com/1apF8wvYW5
— Thomas Daigle (@thomasdaigle) February 12, 2022
Huge police presence. So far, one by one, all the protesters in vehicles have left as asked. pic.twitter.com/nu9dFHuDcU
— á ’ Global News (@ConsumerSOS) February 12, 2022
Windsor police removing protesters from Ambassador Bridge Saturday morning
Live feeds
LIVE FROM AMBASSADOR BRIDGE – Police descend upon blockade https://t.co/ZrXN9zpdYb
— Isabelle Rivo (@isabellerivo) February 12, 2022
Twitter – #AmbassadorBridge
“Canada has one of the highest levels of vaccination, so Canadians have listened and complied…yet we’re still stuck. They feel they’ve done whatever it is that they were asked to do and they feel that we still haven’t gotten back on track.”
