Canada’s Harsh COVID Measures
The film cites that two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 90 percent of Canadians were vaccinated. Despite this, Canada remained one of the most locked-down places in the world. Leading up to the convoy, every Canadian province had implemented vaccine passports. Unvaccinated Canadians were barred from restaurants, cafes, and internal travel. Some were even denied life-saving medical procedures. College students were threatened, banned from campus grounds, and deregistered from classes. In addition, vaccines were mandated for the federal workforce and the federally regulated transportation sectors.Discrimination Toward the Unvaccinated
The film features truckers talking about the discrimination they faced for being unvaccinated, from being unable to eat at restaurants, being denied written exemptions, facing run-ins with the law, and being treated poorly. Many felt defeated, but the voices that were ready and willing to stand up to the mandates gave others renewed passion for fighting for what they believed in.Brigitte Belton, a former cross-border driver and founder of the Freedom Convoy 2022, said she saw her fellow truckers sharing their passion for resistance on social media and knew she wanted to do something: “I was done. I didn’t know if I could fight. But hearing the rest of them talking about it, we could do this. We can do something.” But, she said: “I just have to get people on my side. And I have to let them know why it’s so important to me. And why people shouldn’t be suffering at the hands of their government.”
Truckers, small business owners, and social media influencers started discussing freedom convoys. The idea evolved from local demonstrations to trans-Canada pilgrimages to Canada’s capital, Ottawa. The movement began as grassroots and disorganized, but when an organization known as Canda Unity put forth a clear plan on its website, it spread like wildfire.
Thousands of truckers embarked on the journey, gaining steam along the way. Overpasses, roadways, and highways were packed with supporters, displaying flags and homemade signs supporting freedom from the mandates. But, unfortunately, the Canadian government began spearheading a hate-filled narrative in what the film referred to as “information warfare” geared toward the convoy and Canadian citizens. The film shows how the government and mainstream news outlets promoted misinformation that painted the convoy as dangerous.
An Outpouring of Unity and Support
However, despite efforts to skew the image of the grassroots movement, an outpouring of raw footage emerged as the convoy gained steam, telling a very different story. Canada was coming together, even while its leaders were attacking and diminishing them. Hardworking Canadians wanted to be heard by their government. The EpochTV episode cites polls that showed even those triple-vaccinated were offering support and ready for a conversation on the mandates.Along the routes, people came out to support their fellow Canadians. Despite the frigid temperatures, crowds gathered, cheering and honking; kids attended the rally instead of school, parents waved flags, and fires were lit. There were fireworks, and bystanders handed out food and coffee to the truckers. People threw supplies in the backs of the trucks in an outpour of love, generosity, and support. The truckers cite this as an emotional experience that they didn’t expect.
Countries worldwide established their own convoys against mandates, including Australia, London, Switzerland, and the United States. Twenty-seven countries at one point organized similar convoys in support of Canadian truck drivers. International recognition highlighted the core intent of the movement—to bring Canada together again as a country, end the division, unite the nation from west to east, and stand in solidarity to accomplish a collective goal. Out of this movement was born hope and unity that had been scarce even throughout Canada’s history. The movement was initially thought to last only a few days but lasted nearly a month. As a result of the convoy, two Canadian provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, dropped their mandates.
A Conversation About Freedom Emerged
From the movement emerged a broader discussion emerged regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Bill of Rights, and the International Declaration of Human Rights. The film cites that the mandates tested whether or not written individual rights and freedoms meant something in Canada. The film notes that laws created which violate the Charter of Rights are null and void. When rights were taken away, the people of Canada turned to the available documents that restored their rights. According to the documentary, Canadians had been watching the erosion of their freedom of speech and expression for years. Finally, they stood up and said enough.
The mandates impacted too many. People lost their jobs, faced discrimination, and saw the harmful effects of the extreme COVID measures. Yet, parents, children, neighbors, and freedom-loving people, vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, united in the name of love and peace. The convoy gathered for 22 days. Many were not leaving until the mandates were removed.
