Trucker protest reaches Sask., not endorsed by associations

A convoy of trucks has approached the halfway point of a controversial trip from B.C. to Ottawa.

Calling themselves ‘Freedom Convoy 2022’, organizers have claimed up to several hundred trucks at a time have been making the cross-country trek. They are rallying against the recent mandate calling on all truck drivers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated.

The convoy travelled through British Columbia Saturday and Sunday, and then moved through Alberta and Saskatchewan Monday.

The protest, which is calling for an end to vaccine mandates, passports, and lockdowns, has gained some traction but has also come in for criticism from trucking associations.

The action has received over 75,000 likes on its Facebook page, with thousands of people tuning into their livestreams and offering their support.

In a post on Facebook, one supporter, Tammy Lynn Bridgeo said, “this is what Canada is all about. Thank you to each and every one of you for standing up and taking a stand to save our country.”

The convoy’s GoFundMe page had nearly reached its initial goal of raising $4 million, which organizers say will be dispersed to truckers to help cover the cost of fuel, and if needed, food and shelter. The page had $3.7 million by late afternoon Monday.

“It's a small price to pay for our freedoms. We thank you all for your donations and know that you are helping reshape this once beautiful country back to the way it was,” Tamara Lich, the organizer, and secretary for the Maverick Party, said on their GoFundMe page.

Meanwhile, the B.C. Trucking Association (BCTA) joined the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) in distancing itself from the protest.

“BCTA is not involved with nor supporting the convoy in any manner,” Dave Earle, BCTA President told Kelowna10 in an email Monday.

On Sunday, the CTA said the vast majority of Canadian truckers are vaccinated and working hard to continue moving cross-border and domestic freight. They said the CTA doesn’t support and strongly disapproves of any protests on public roadways, highways, and bridges.

“The only way to cross the border, in a commercial truck of any other vehicle, is to get vaccinated,” Stephen Laskowski, CTA President said.

The convoy is expected in Ottawa on Friday.

Latest COVID numbers

Over a three-day period, Friday through Sunday, B.C. is reporting 4,997 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 new deaths. For Sunday specifically there were 1,345 new cases, with 987 in hospital and 129 in critical care.

For the Interior, there were 1,345 new cases over the weekend and one death. A total of 340 cases were reported for Sunday, with 113 hospitalizations and 16 people receiving critical care.