UPDATE: Crowds descend on Ottawa’s downtown core for anti-vaccine mandate protest

Crowds of trucks jammed Ottawa streets and crowds packed Parliament Hill on Saturday to protest the federal Liberal government, vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions, with thousands more expected to arrive by end-of-day.

The sounds of honking horns echoed around the core of the national capital from vehicles parked and idling in front of the parliamentary buildings and around the National War Memorial.

Demonstrators marched up and down Wellington Street, which runs right in front of Parliament Hill and the Prime Minister’s Office, flying the national flag, the Quebec flag and the occasional American flag.

Many of those in attendance appeared to be unmasked. Some could be seen carrying copies of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Others carried signs reading “God keep our land glorious and free,” “Make Canada great again,” and “we are here for our freedom.” Still others bore expletive-laden signs targeting Trudeau.

Hundreds more vehicles from Western Canada, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces are expected to arrive in the next few hours to join those already in the capital.

Folks are here. They’re loud. They’re expressing their rights to protest. And it’s been pretty peaceful so far. Party atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/3a06YqCyZU

— Xiaoli Li / 李肖黎 (@Xiaoli_3000) January 29, 2022

The weekend-long rally is in opposition of COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.

The Office of the Prime Minister could not confirm a report early Saturday that Trudeau was relocated from Rideau Cottage because of security concerns.

In a statement to CityNews the PMO said it would not comment on security matters, but said the prime minster was continuing his isolation from a COVID-19 exposure “in the National Capital Region.”

“We’ve consulted Ottawa Public Health on appropriate protocols.”

For the second straight day the atmosphere was festive in Ottawa.

The crowd on the lawn in front of the Centre Block swelled in size as the day went on, with people mostly shoulder to shoulder as movement slows.

More folks arriving at parliament. pic.twitter.com/t8Hiv5BFE9

— Xiaoli Li / 李肖黎 (@Xiaoli_3000) January 29, 2022

Trucking Alliance issues warning

The Canadian Trucking Alliance says it appears a number of protesters in Ottawa have no connection to the trucking industry, adding they have a separate agenda to push.

The group is telling Canadians that many of the people they may see or hear in media reports at the trucking protest on Parliament Hill do not speak for the industry or represent truckers as a whole.

About one-tenth of truckers that haul goods are estimated to be affected by requirements on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border for drivers to be vaccinated in order to cross freely.

The alliance says in a statement that the industry must adapt and comply with this mandate, noting the vast majority of drivers have done so.

They add that truckers’ actions at the demonstration will have an impact on the image of their colleagues nationally.

“Your behaviour today will not only reflect upon you and your family but the 300,000 plus fellow Canadians that, like you, take great pride in our industry,” reads the statement. “The impact your actions will have on the image of the majority of your colleagues from coast-to-coast who do not share your opinion but share your passion for the industry and country.”

Protesters arrive in Ottawa Friday

Protesters descended on Parliament Hill Friday morning, and the crowd grew steadily in size throughout the day as big rigs rolled into downtown to oppose vaccine mandates, including cross-border requirements for truckers.

Police have warned their intelligence is flagging the potential for violence.

But the atmosphere Friday was more like a festival, as protesters danced in front of the Centennial Flame to Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” carrying signs that read “coercion does not equal consent” and “mandate freedom.”

The noise at times was overwhelming, with people cheering, car horns blaring, music blasting and vehicles circling in a constant parade. Expletive-laden signs and decals targeting Trudeau were a dominant theme around downtown.

Meanwhile Ottawa residents have been told by police to avoid the downtown core this weekend if possible.

Hundreds more vehicles are expected by Saturday, from Western Canada, Quebec, and the Maritimes and the Parliamentary Protective Service expects as many as 10,000 protesters.

Ottawa police are working with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, RCMP and other agencies to identify any potential threats to public safety.

Though the aim of the protest is ostensibly to oppose vaccine mandates for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border, attendees said that is only a small part of their demands.

“We’re not going to allow a small group of scumbags to control our bloodstream and health,” said Jason Estey over a loudspeaker as protesters circled around him on Parliament Hill Friday.

After his impromptu speech, Estey said he feels the vaccine mandates imposed by Trudeau’s government infringe on people’s rights.

“I’m honoured and privileged … to be out with this amazing positive vibe, to feel and experience it, and to know we are going to crush the establishment, this deep state shadow government here in Canada and we’re going to have our rights restored,” he said.

Organizers of the group that mainly planned the truckers’ convoy, Canada Unity, are expected to address the crowds Saturday.

The memo being pushed by Canada Unity unlawfully demands Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and the Senate force the federal and provincial governments to lift all COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine mandates. It does not mention truckers, and was initially sent to the Senate and Simon on Dec. 11.

Fatigue and frustration about the pandemic measures were a theme of Friday’s demonstration.

George Broharov said he was drawn to the protest in Ottawa from his home in Hamilton because of the repeating cycles of lockdowns and public-health restrictions.

“It’s about people being mandated, obligated to do what they don’t want to do. I disagree with that,” he said.

While the federal government has imposed a vaccine mandate for federally regulated workers and at the border, almost all COVID-19 restrictions fall to provincial jurisdiction. That includes mask mandates, business and school closures, and other public and private gathering limits.

It’s unclear how long protesters intend to stay on Parliament Hill.

Some protesters said they wouldn’t leave until public-health restrictions and mandates are lifted, or Trudeau is forced out as prime minister.

Others are not so optimistic the government and will fold to their demands.

“It’s a nice thought, but I don’t think anything will happen immediately,” said Phil Powers, a truck driver from Oshawa, Ont., who parked his trailer truck in front of Parliament Hill on Wellington Street for the weekend.

“This is the Canadian space to have the debate, so that’s why we’re here.”