Another ‘freedom’ convoy rolls through

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This article was published 06/02/2022 (1482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another convoy of truckers drove through Brandon on Saturday, calling for an end to COVID-19 public health mandates while throwing support behind the protest in Ottawa.

The convoy, which was joined by other members of the public, originally planned to depart Brandon and make its way to Portage la Prairie and back, but opted to stay in the city due to poor road conditions. The protest was in support of the truckers in Ottawa calling for the end of mandates, among other political demands, according to the Brandon Area Freedom Support Facebook page.

The Sun requested an interview with the event organizer in person and through Facebook, but they declined to comment.

The truck convoys are a smaller presence in Westman compared to other areas, such as Ottawa or Winnipeg, said Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest.

“We always uphold people’s right to peacefully protest or demonstrate or make their views known about things,” Chrest said. “We’ve had many, many issues that have been presented that way in and around our city over the years and this is yet another one.”

The majority of issues being raised by the protesters are not municipal in nature and instead target provincial and federal public health measures.

“We talk about COVID fatigue. People are very frustrated and worn out by this. They’re frustrated and upset, and some are lashing out. Some people deal with things differently than others,” Chrest said.

The Sun posted on Facebook Friday asking for comments from community members about the trucker convoys touring Westman. The Sun received more than 1,300 remarks split between support and disagreement with the movement’s motives.

Some comments and private messages to the Sun noted many people did not want to express an opinion out of fear of personal attacks when talking about the protests, while others questioned the intentions behind the rallies.

“I do not support the convoy in any way. There is too much evidence that the organizers are an unsavoury lot. I think they have convinced a lot of honest people that they are fighting for freedom,” one comment said. “The fact that the convoy travelled across the country and is parked in Ottawa protesting demonstrates that Canada is still the land of the free. There is no need to fight for freedom that hasn’t been lost. I am also sure that Canada will be slowly loosening mandates as the rest of the world is doing. I’m worried that the protesters will then claim that their protest has worked and gather up supports for their other much less noble ideas.”

It was noted by multiple people the majority of truckers continue to work during the pandemic, delivering essential goods and services.

They added the convoy truckers have the right to protest because they have that freedom to do so in Canada, but the “no restrictions” message puts vulnerable Canadians at risk. An emphasis should be placed on supporting health-care workers who have been working during the global health crisis and are begging Canadians to adhere to public health restrictions.

“I totally disagree with the convoy. The government can’t give in to demands by every group that disagrees with their decisions. Those decisions are made by the majority of voters in elections. Another issue is that the majority of truckers want to keep working to ensure our supplies are delivered. Protesting at borders doesn’t help this country keep food on the shelves,” a comment said.

Others expressed their full support for the protesters.

“The Canadian freedom convoy isn’t just about the truckers and their best interests. They are standing up to a corrupt government who really has no interest in the rights/freedom that Canadians are entitled to.”

Others support the rally’s peaceful side of the protest because they would like to see kids have a normal childhood. Some argued they have the right to do what they want with their own body in terms of vaccines.

“I fully support the truckers. Vaccines should not be mandated on anyone. We have a right to choose with informed consent.”

For some, the convoys have their “absolute support” because COVID-19 restrictions have “gone too far” in Canada, contributing to loss, depression and deaths by suicide.

“They are only destroying the good that’s left of our great country. It’s time to end them now … Go truckers go!!!”

Another commenter said the unpredictability of the global health crisis and its associated mandates are pushing people to their limits.

Others raised concern that the convoys spoke to a larger division between left and right political beliefs on an issue that did not need to be politicized.

“It has been truly eye-opening to see how things got twisted as I watched the events live from the hill. This has been a traumatic event for the world [COVID] and I hope we can come out of this and love and forgive each other one day. So much the hate and division between us that was caused by differences in medical beliefs … left or right … vaxxed or unvaxxed … I’m so sick of it — I truly wish we could all get along!! This fighting hurts my heart and makes me tired [sic].”

One person replied they were neutral in regard to the convoys but cautioned the lines between freedom and privileges are becoming blurred. The protests are a sign people need to step back and re-evaluate the meaning of these words, they said.

COVID-19 is a real, medical pandemic, they said, and this reality is being forgotten as people focus on political vendettas and people become upset because they do not want the government to tell them what to do.

“In the fall, people were literally hanging from planes as they took off, desperate to leave their country to live anywhere else because of the Taliban, hospitals running out of oxygen, and countries that don’t even have access to the vaccine at all. But yet we feel like having to wear a mask and take other measures if you choose not to get a vaccine in Canada is an infringement on our ‘freedom.’ If we take a step back and look around at the world, it’s pretty evident to see the entitlement that has grown in our first-world country. There is a limitless number of refugees around the world who would gladly take your place as a Canadian if you find it too oppressing to live here.”

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp