Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in "Israel"
Joint statement: The United States will cut down tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut down tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% for the same period
US-China trade talks joint statement: Agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida: Al-Qassam has decided to release the Zionist soldier holding American citizenship, Edan Alexander, today
Israeli media: The army was informed of a ceasefire in Gaza to release captive Idan Alexander, starting 12 pm
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Qatar and Egypt welcome Hamas' announcement of its agreement to release American Aidan Alexander.
Hamas says to release US captive Edan Alexander.
Al Mayadeen's sources: Trump will announce that Hamas will release US captive Edan Alexander from Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli aircraft bombed the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, west of Yemen.
The Israeli occupation military issues a bombing threat against the Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.

Canadian protesters ignore warnings of police crackdown

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Feb 2022 13:02
3 Min Read

Truckers are dismissing governmental warnings that they could face fines and perhaps arrest. 

  • x
  • Demonstrators and vehicles clog downtown streets in Ottawa on Saturday as truckers and their supporters protest against coronavirus vaccine mandates. (Reuters)
    Demonstrators and vehicles clog downtown streets in Ottawa on Saturday as truckers and their supporters protest against coronavirus vaccine mandates. (Reuters)

For three weeks, truckers have been parked in downtown Ottawa, protesting vaccine mandates and sleeping in their vehicles. Protestors argue that they joined the protests because of the recent regulations which were enforced on unvaccinated truckers, who must be vaccinated to cross from the US into Canada. 

In the most recent reports, truckers that have been blockading Ottawa for three weeks have reportedly defied Canadian police, ignoring governmental warnings that they could face fines and perhaps arrest. 

On Thursday, Canadian officers threatened to crackdown on the protests as buses loaded with police reinforcements made their way to Ottawa. Canadian police set up metal fences outside the senate and parliament. 

"I ain't going anywhere," said Pat King, a protest organizer for the "Freedom Convoy."

"I haven't overstayed my welcome. My taxes paid for me to be here." The protesters gathered around Parliament Hill despite heavy rain.

Chris Barber, one of the leaders and protesters, had gotten arrested on Thursday afternoon and will be facing criminal charges. Hours after that, Tamara Lich, who is also an organizer, was arrested in downtown Ottawa, facing charges of mischief. Two other individuals were also arrested.

Related News

US adds 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports

Mark Carney wins race to replace Trudeau as Canada's prime minister

Policemen have been preparing for multiple scenarios after protestors were ignoring formal warnings. One deputy police chief, Steve Bell, said:  “We want people to peacefully leave... But I can tell you that if they do not peacefully leave, we have plans, strategies and tactics to be able to get them to leave.”

Bell declared intentions to break up the protests in the coming days. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoes the rhetoric, saying that it's about time "that these illegal and dangerous activities stop."

“They are a threat to our economy and our relationship with trading partners,” he said. “They are a threat to public safety.”

More police from Quebec were sent to reinforce Ottawa police, the Ontario provincial police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted police. 

However, the strategy remains unclear. While police blocked roads to isolate protestors, they were chased off by the protestors. 

Despite laws prohibiting the transfer of fuel in Canada, protestors brought wagons of fuel to their protesting site to keep heaters and truck engines functioning.
 
The convoys have blocked key trade routes and corridors between the US and Canada over the past few weeks, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. The protests, which have been reduced to an Ottawan stronghold, have inspired similar protests in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands. 

Read more: How American funding for Canada protests could sway US politics

  • Justin Trudeau
  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine mandates
  • trucker convoy
  • Canadian Residential Schools

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Digital Apartheid? Report Exposes Social Media Bias Against Palestinians
Technology

Digital apartheid? Report exposes anti-Palestine social media bias

Norway divests from Israeli fuel firm Paz over West Bank involvement
Palestine

Norway divests from Israeli fuel firm Paz over West Bank involvement

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II performs a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, east of Paris, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (AP)
Politics

UK government sued over jet parts linked to Gaza bombing

Text from the CatGPT page of the OpenAI website is shown in this photo, New York, February 2, 2023 (AP/Richard Drew)
US & Canada

Different nations, different truths: How AI shapes global views: FP

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS