Canadian truckers lead fight against COVID-19 restrictions

Canadian truck drivers, whose professional activity is restricted by health measures against COVID-19, are leading international protests in some countries, backed by neo-Nazi and extreme right-wing groups that have found in the rejection of vaccines a source to attract followers. Protests have been frequent in recent months, especially in Canada where they are becoming more violent.

For more than ten days, around 500 HGVs have been blocking the centre of Ottawa, the traditionally calm capital city, impeding traffic in the city centre streets, preventing supplies and hindering the activity of the institutions, starting with the Parliament, which is only half functioning. In addition to the trucks jammed in the streets and squares, there is the din of horns and demonstrations by extremists.

Some vandal groups have vandalised and defaced the banners of activists who brave the cold at the demonstrations: "Freedom", "Canada goes communist" or "Trudeau resign", the prime minister who has suddenly found himself with a problem as serious as it was unexpected.

The Canadian protests are having more active imitators far away, in New Zealand no less. In the capital, Wellington, the situation is much the same as in Ottawa. Outraged truckers have even copied the banners seen in Ottawa. There, the fight against movement restrictions on the island is backed up by a fact: 96% of the inhabitants are vaccinated. The risk of infection is lower.

As if that were not enough, this current of protests is being encouraged from the United States - where there have also been attempted protests, albeit less serious - by Donald Trump in his efforts to destabilise the situation. "We have to defend the freedom of our people, which the rulers do not," he was heard to shout at a rally in Texas where dozens of truckers and hundreds of negationists applauded him.

The shortage of basic necessities and mechanical spare parts for different equipment, which has been detected since the beginning of the pandemic, is exacerbated by the limitations imposed on road transport, turning the discontent into a vicious circle.