Canadian PM Justin Trudeau moves to secret place amid anti- vax protests.
Thousands of protesters gathered on Parliament Hill in Canada’s Ontario calling for an end to Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have been moved to an undisclosed location amid security concerns, sources told CBC News.The decision to evacuate the prime ministerial residence came after Canadian Parliament’s Seargent-at-Arms warned that demonstrators could show up at official homes. The PM’s office has refused to comment on the relocation of Trudeau, citing security reasons.
The protesters, mostly truck drivers, were joined by demonstrators on foot from nearly all regions of the country. They all converged on the parliamentary precinct on Saturday denouncing public health measures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as per a report by CBC News.
While Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sholy on Wednesday said that he has been in contact with protest leaders, who affirmed peaceful demonstrations, Deputy Chief Steve Bell raised concerns about the presence of “parallel groups” that Canadian intelligence speculated.
“We do not know all the parallel demonstrations that may occur, and/ or the lone wolf individuals who may insert themselves into the mix for various reasons,” Bell said. Meanwhile, PM Trudeau has condemned the growing anti-vaccine movement, saying that it is against the value of kindness of Canadians.
The protesting truckers sounded their air horns non-stop throughout the city as they converged at Parliament Hill. They were joined by demonstrators on foot who waved Canadian banners and demanded “Freedom”.
The Parliament Buildings were adorned with banners denouncing public health measures.
It is to pertinent to mention that Canadians launched protests against the vaccine mandate after the government launched a new requirement that truckers entering Canada have to be fully immunised as of January 15. This came after the US imposed an identical mandate on truckers entering the country.
The protesters were seen chanting slogans against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they voiced their anger not only at the Covid-19 restrictions but showed a broader discontent with the government.
It is to pertinent to mention that Canadians launched protests against the vaccine mandate after the government launched a new requirement that truckers entering Canada have to be fully immunised as of January 15. This came after the US imposed an identical mandate on truckers entering the country.
Protestors were seen carrying copies of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, while others carried signs reading ‘God keep our land glorious and free,’ ‘Make Canada great again,’ and ‘we are here for our freedom’, the Daily Mail UK reported.
However, as per Canadian Trucking Alliance estimate, about 15% of truckers in Canada i.e. about 16,000 are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Canadian opposition of Conservative lawmakers has supported the convoy, saying that the vaccine mandate has created a bottleneck for supply-chain, leaving store shelves empty in the country.
By line: Divya Thearia