Trucker convoy makes its way to the Sudbury area
The cross-Canada trucker convoy protesting vaccine mandates made its way through northeastern Ontario on Friday.
Greater Sudbury Police said early Friday evening the front of the convoy was headed to Wahnapitae along Highway 17, while the remainder was still gassing up at a service station on Regent Street.
CTV News caught up with the convoy in Nairn Centre, just west of Sudbury. A few hundred supporters lined the highway to greet them.
“I’ve been inspired by seeing what the truckers are doing to try to make a difference," one supporter said. "Our children have been locked down for too long, and it’s not good for their development. We have to take care of our country because our leader is not.”
“We’ve come out for this reason: freedom. This is about freedom, (Prime Minister) Trudeau, this is not about the fringe.”
Others said the protest was about regaining their freedom after extensive lockdowns due to the pandemic.
“Forcing people to do things, I don’t think is a good idea," one person said.
"I came from a country where (we were) forced a lot and, then we came here for freedom. So I would like to have that Canada back and I’m here to support them.”
A group called Action for Canada, which has begun legal action against the Canadian and B.C. governments, was one of the groups in attendance.
“My hope is that we come together and start to have dialogue and we go over the nuances of the science and what is going on in particular on the laws and freedoms and we work together to keep everyone safe,” said spokesperson David DiCarlantonio
Northern Ontario politicians said Friday they welcome the public dissent, but they worry about some radical elements.
“The bulk of the protestors who started … they have a right to protest as every Canadian does and that’s something that I support wholeheartedly," said Nipissing-Temiskaming MPP Anthony Rota.
"But there’s a small fringe group that have kind of come in and infiltrated the group that I’m concerned about. That’s the ones I’m concerned about on what exactly their plans are.”
The truckers have already started to arrive in Ottawa, and a huge rally and protest is scheduled for Saturday at noon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car
Barnacles, bright yellow devices used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to cities across Canada.
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.