Ep. 113: The Freedom Convoy 2022

Heart & Home

For 23 days a trucker protest, also known as the Freedom Convoy 2022, who opposed the vaccine mandates came to a forceful end with the arrest of the Convoy leaders and the towing of at least 21 vehicles that were blocking the Parliament in Ottawa, Canada. The blockade had choked the city for more than three weeks before police used the emergency powers, to tow trucks, arrest 200 protesters and clear the area. The emergency measures gave police the authority to declare some protests illegal — including the streets around Parliament Hill — as no-protest zones where people could be subject to arrest, and to force service providers like tow-truck operators to remove their big rigs from the protest scene, and authorize financial-services providers to freeze accounts and assets belonging to protest participants. However, both the emergency measure and the freezing of bank accounts were lifted last week and many Covid restrictions will be lifted in March and April. But the troubles aren't over. The issue now moves to the halls of justice where businesses have filed a class action lawsuit to the tune of $306M … Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces criticism from opposition lawmakers who characterized his move as government overreach and an infringement on individuals’ rights. So what really happened with the trucker party protests? Its about business. The truckers’ actions impeded cross-border deliveries from Canada to U.S. factories. It disrupted the Canadian economy, especially for businesses near the protest sites. It caused chaos and a lot of noise. Life for Ottowa residents can return to normal instead of inhaling vehicle fumes and hearing incessant honking. Despite the legal wranglings that’s ahead for both sides, the Covid mask mandate restrictions could soon be loosened. Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and New Foundland are ending vaccine passports in March. Alberta and Saskatchewan dropped them in the past week. B.C. hasn’t dropped the vaccine passport but has lifted indoor capacity limits.