IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES – Thousands of people and hundreds of trucks converged on Saturday on the capital of Canada to protest against the vaccination requirement for truck drivers.
Canadian flags in standard, placards “Freedomand slogans against Justin Trudeau: thousands of people and hundreds of trucks converged on the capital Ottawa on Saturday for a large demonstration against health measures.
Read alsoIn Canada, a mixed record for Justin Trudeau after six years in power
More than two hours before the start of the parade, downtown Ottawa was already invaded by dozens of trucks honking non-stop and hundreds of demonstrators, noted an AFP journalist. “I want all this to stop, all this health drift. The measures are now unjustified“, said Philippe Castonguay, 31-year-old entrepreneur, before Parliament. Coming from northern Quebec, a seven-hour drive from Ottawa, he considers that “the vaccination obligation takes us to a new society for which we have never voted“.
This protest movement started in the west of the country last week: dozens of truckers organized in a convoy rallied Vancouver to Ottawa to protest against health measures and in particular the obligation to vaccinate truck drivers.
Since mid-January, Canada and the United States have imposed vaccination on truckers crossing the border between the United States and Canada, the longest in the world at nearly 9,000 km.
In a few days, the movement gained momentum and many other convoys joined the movement, clogging the roads around the federal capital on Saturday morning. The meeting point is now Parliament Hill, in the heart of the federal capital, to put pressure on the government of Justin Trudeau.
“Intrusion into our privacy”
“We shouldn’t be forced to get vaccinated, no matter what the vaccine“, explains to AFP Louise, who refuses to give her last name. “It should be a personal choice. The vaccination passport must also be removed. They represent an intrusion into our privacyadds the Quebecer who came to support the truckers. Much of the anger is aimed at the Canadian prime minister personally, and many protesters carried anti-Trudeau signs on the roads.
In Ottawa, the surroundings of Parliament were placed under close surveillance by the police who fear overflows during this demonstration described as “unique, risky and consequentialby Police Chief Peter Sloly. “We are ready to investigate and if necessary arrest and prosecute anyone who acts violently or violates the law during the demonstration or on the sidelines of the demonstration“, he warned at a press conference on Friday.
The parliamentary precinct was closed for the weekend and the deputies warned were given instructions for caution. “There will be a small group of people who pose a threat to themselves, to each other and to Canadians“, worried Justin Trudeau during an interview Friday with the Canadian press. “Canadians are not represented by this very disturbing minority of Canadians, small but very vocal, who attack science, government, society“, he added.
Conservative leader and opponent of Justin Trudeau, Erin O’Toole, who promised to meet with truckers, called for calm and a peaceful protest.
Canadian truckers had received support from American billionaire and Tesla boss Elon Musk on Thursday, who tweeted on Thursday: “Canadian truckers deliver.»
Read alsoIn Canada, Justin Trudeau “the ecologist” subsidized oil
To date, 82% of Canadians aged 5 and over have been vaccinated against Covid-19, and more than 90% of adults. Believing that the “vast majority» of truck drivers is vaccinated in Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, a major industry association, has «strongly disapprovedthis demonstration. The Canadian police fear that the mobilization of truckers will continue beyond the weekend.