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Thousands of anti-vaccine demonstrators came on the capital over the weekend, purposely halting traffic around Parliament Hill, in a sight at odds with Canadians’ reputation for niceness and rule-following.
Some peed on the National War Memorial and parked their cars there. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was the scene of a dance. Signs and banners with swastikas were carried by a number of people.
In the aftermath of the country’s largest pandemic demonstration to far, demonstrators have received little compassion in a country where more than 80% of people have been vaccinated. Some of the crass actions infuriated a lot of people.
The Ottawa demonstrators were described by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “fringe minority” who mirrored the spread of “disinformation and misinformation online, conspiracy theories, about microchips, and God knows what else that go with the tinfoil hats.”
Organizers have raised millions for the cross-country “freedom truck convoy” against vaccine mandates, including one who has expressed white nationalist views. Former US President Donald Trump and Tesla tycoon Elon Musk both endorsed it.
During the demonstration, Trudeau and his family were relocated to a secret location. (Two of his children tested positive for COVID-19, and he was found to be infected during a test on Monday.) He stated that he is fine and that he works from home.)
On Tuesday, a smaller but still significant number of protestors took to the streets, claiming that they will not leave until all vaccine requirements and other restrictions are lifted. They are also demanding for Trudeau’s government to be removed, despite the fact that it is only responsible for a minority of the policies, with the majority of them being implemented by provincial governments.
“It’s past time for Canada and the rest of the globe to find other ways to deal with this epidemic,” said Canmore, Alberta, protester Michelle Kloet, 47.
The monument of Terry Fox, a national hero who lost his leg to bone disease as a child and embarked on a fundraising trip across Canada in 1980, was draped with an upside-down Canadian flag and a poster reading “Mandate freedom” during the demonstration.
“I was astounded by my children’s reaction. “They’ve grown up with Terry Fox as a hero, just like all Canadian young people,” said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. “This isn’t the kind of Canada we aspire to be.” And I truly feel, and I am aware, that this is not who we are as a country.”
People “desecrate our most hallowed monuments and flaunt swastikas and other symbols of hate and intolerance,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned.
The outburst was so out of character for Canada that one American scientist felt obligated to apologise for what he perceived to be American sway.
In hotels, shops, and grocery stores, many of the demonstrators refused to wear masks. Demonstrators had requested that a homeless shelter feed them, according to one report.
A tip line for hate crimes, threats, and assaults relating to the event has been established, according to Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly. According to Sloly, one individual was arrested as a result of the demonstration.
Truck drivers parked their massive rigs on Parliament Hill, making them the most prominent group of demonstrators. Some were protesting a law requiring truckers entering Canada to be completely inoculated against the coronavirus, which went into effect on Jan. 15.
Meanwhile, authorities moved to dismantle a protest convoy of trucks and other vehicles that had been blocking a major US border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, since Saturday. According to authorities, the gathering became violent as some demonstrators broke through police barriers to join it.
In Ontario and Quebec, Canada’s most populated provinces, a surge in the highly contagious omicron form has resulted in record cases and lockdowns. Vaccine mandates set by provinces are still in effect.
However, eateries reopened Monday with a 50% capacity, and Quebec’s premier, Francois Legault, stated Tuesday that he is dropping his threat to tax the unvaccinated, claiming that the measure has divided Quebecers.
“I have a responsibility to defend Quebecers’ health, but I also have a responsibility to protect our society’s tranquilly,” Legault added.
For a variety of reasons, including less political tension north of the border, Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said the disinformation rabbit hole in Canada is not as deep as it is in the US.
“As a result, Canadians have far less pity or tolerance for the unvaccinated.” Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, didn’t fare well in Canada. Even inside Conservative Party circles, a Donald Trump would be shunned, according to Wiseman.
“As the event continues on, the Ottawa protestors have not assisted their cause,” he noted.
