A trucker protest is seen in a file photo taken in Washington. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Following the Public Health Agency of Canada’s announcement that foreign truck drivers can only enter Canada if fully vaccinated starting Jan. 15, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announcing similar requirements starting Jan. 22 for non-U.S. national truckers crossing into the United States, thousands of truckers decided to protest and will meet in Ottawa in an attempt to stop the mandates.
Canadian truckers, along with concerned citizens all over the country, decided to take action and plan to drive toward the Canadian Parliament with the intention of having thousands of vehicles pulling into Parliament and parking there, according to the organizers Canada Unity & Truckers United.
A similar action took place on Jan. 17 when a convoy of truckers protested against the mandates in Emerson, Manitoba, near the U.S.-Canada border.
U.S. truckers began to organize their own resistance on Tuesday. The Epoch Times is following the story and will be reporting on the developments.
Patty Every is a business owner in Nova Scotia and the founder of Atlantic Freedom Fighters.
“Through this pandemic, I’ve watched our government slowly destroy our economy, mental health, and the future stability of this country,” Every told The Epoch Times.
“Mandates that they continue to illegally impose on the people have done far greater damage than the pandemic itself. The Canadian government continues to use phrases and words to the Canadian people through the media that incite hate toward people who have decided to utilize their right to say no to a vaccine. And as a result, hate crimes against the unvaccinated are beginning to take place. What do we do to stop this when it’s our leaders that are doing it? The Canadian people have had enough. At first, we were complacent. But look where complacency got us. It’s time for us to stand up and protect what our country stands for: freedom. We are the ‘true north, strong and free’ and the people of Canada are ready to protect that.
“[A U.S. organizer] is going to create a movement called ‘Nations Unite For Freedom’ where Canada and The United States join each other to help each other,” Every said, unable to hold in her emotion. “We hope by doing this that other nations are going to follow the lead and join each other.
“Thousands and thousands of vehicles,” truckers and regular vehicles will be convoying from “every corner of the nation” to the capital beginning on Jan. 23.
“Multiple freedom organizations across Canada have come together to make a stand,” she said.
Each state or province’s protestors will leave at a specific time to reach the capital on Jan. 28. According to Every, there are already at least 2,000 trucks involved that started the drive to Ottawa before the designated commencement date.
Truckers using the Pacific Highway Crossing in Surrey, B.C. south of Vancouver face a wait up to five hours because of heightened security checks at all border crossings on Sept. 12, 2001. (Canadian Press/Richard Lam)
The Epoch Times reached out to other leaders of the Canadian protestors.
“Today we have one of the most important fights and responsibilities on our hands in recent history, namely, to protect our human rights, freedom of choice, freedom of voice, expression, opinion, and uncensored debate,” said Martin Brodmann, vice president of Canada Unity and president of Truckers United Inc.
“Conflicts are not fought in discussion or dividing actions. They are fought in unity, [and] time is running out fast. Let’s not waste the few seconds we have left to make a difference, not only on behalf of our veterans but more so for the generations to come. We have to trust and let us [be] guided not only by our doings, more so, we have to trust and unite in faith regardless of what kind of beliefs anyone has.
“Faith is also a freedom of choice,” Brodmann added, “It’s not upon us to judge beliefs, and it’s neither in our rights to discriminate against anyone. Combined and united regardless of race, religion, culture, and gender, we need to believe—and only then we will succeed. History over and over has also proven that minorities eventually fought for the right reasons. We need to stay strong, and in unity we shall confront our enemies with respect. Our memorandum of understanding (MOU) represents and demands to stop all unlawful mandates on behalf of all industries and the people of Canada, and further to bring the law back to Ottawa for the people, with the people.”
Canada Unity & Truckers United organized Nationwide Freedom Convoy 2022, “The Ottawa Bear-Hug event,” to stop unlawful COVID mandates.
“Operation Bear-Hug was initiated last year and was part of our initial convoy of December 5th 2021 to December 10th,” Brodmann explained, “In the meantime, Operation Bear-Hug became not only a national but also an international movement of importance to spread love, unity, and dignity throughout the world. A bear hug reflects times of uncertainty, but more so to unite and stand in unity. Canada Unity & Truckers United do not endorse or encourage any National or International border blockades at this time to ensure movement of goods in an already disrupted supply chain driven by trade wars.
“The Freedom Convoy 2022 West commences in Vancouver on Jan. 23, heading east to Ottawa, Ontario. The Newfoundland Freedom Convoy 2022 joins Nova Scotia Freedom Convoy 2022 on Jan. 27, heading west to join in Ottawa to initiate not only Operation Bear-Hug on a national level, but more so to stand in solidarity with our neighboring freedom lovers from the USA, [who] also will join us in Ottawa,” Brodmann added.
Pat King from Alberta is currently an occupational health and safety professional. He was a dispatch supervisor for five years and drove trucks for 15 years.
“We can’t go on living like this any longer. And as a father, I need to do my part to protect my children’s future and the future generations to come,” King said.
Ryan Mihilewicz, a trucker of 25 years from Saskatchewan, said: “Our veterans fought hard for our freedoms and all those freedoms are being taken. It’s time for Canadians to return the favor. The government needs to realize they work for the people, not the other way around.”
Tamara Lich, another top organizer, has worked in the oil and gas industry for 23 years.
“Our rights and freedoms have been taken from us once again, after so many years of people constantly being divided by our government it’s time for us to take a stand and demand our laws be followed properly. The government continues to find loopholes to justify their abusive behavior and it’s not going to be tolerated any further,” Lich said.
According to Every, there are also “tons” of trucks coming from Quebec.
On Jan. 11, Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced his intention to impose a new “health contribution” tax on the unvaccinated in the coming weeks. He didn’t specify the amount to be levied but said it would be “significant.”
Joanie Pelchat is the top organizer for Quebec, a veteran medical software professional.
“It’s time to wake up. It’s time to act. It’s time to make a change. We are going downhill and it needs to change. This government overreach needs to end. I’m doing this for my daughter’s future and for Canada’s future,” Pelchat said.
Lee Harding contributed to this report.
Enrico Trigoso