Canadian Trucker Protesters Are Not What Americans Think They Are

Can't Truck Protests in Canada Be Misconstrued by U.S. Demographics?

Nicholas Brown

At first glance, they may appear American. Some displayed transparencies mentioning "Make Canada Great Again," "F–k Trudeau," or "Trump 2024." Others waved Confederate flags. They chanted "Freedom," while authorities evacuated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family to an undisclosed location, echoing the scramble in the United States on September 11, 2001, to shield Vice President Dick Cheney.

This precipitated celebration among some Americans, with hopes that the uprising in frozen Canada would spark unrest. Notable figures include Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump. American truckers reportedly took inspiration to plan their own rally in Washington, D.C.

U.S. conservatives, inspired by the Canadian trucker protests – even sparking interest in Canada – may find solace in the perceived Canadian turn towards authoritarianism governed by the undesirable Justin Trudeau. Just another tyrant, many may say, while people in trucks arepromised to be their saviors.

Personalities like Tucker Carlson, Trump, and Musk see grandeur in this Canadian movement, but they're erroneous. Although sharing simplistic parallels, iconic symbols, and belligerent slogans, this Canadian protest is no groundswell or prairie wildfire. Quite possibly, a winter festival, a short, furious eruption … and even more notably, a very Canadian winter festival.

Forget about drawing parallels with January 6, 2021. The masses involved – estimated by authorities to amount to 5,000-18,000 people, significantly fewer than the organizers claimed 50,000 truckloads – are not predominantly white, male, or Christian. Canada's heterogeneity reflects this mosaic, with the populace reportedly accepting over 1% of new immigrants to Canada last year.

A reporter meandering through the Parliament Hill crowd described a "festive" atmosphere – not merely a boisterous combination of irritable, persistent Canadian protesters, spewing a long list of complaints. Amongst the leaders, an astute observer noted, were a Jewish man and an indigenous Canadian.

Their shared cause was opposition to lockdowns, mask mandates, and other public health directives. They identified that some separatist factions within trucking had emerged, espousing opposition to vaccines, vaccine misinformation, and harmful traffic rhetoric. It's estimated that approximately 90% of Canadian truckers are vaccinated, and their organization has severed ties with the protestors.

The revelation unveiled that truckers living in a country with one of the world's highest vaccination rates were willing to abide by their government's restrictive measures – mandated mask-wearing, school closures, business closures, fitness studio closures, and office closures, particularly for the unvaccinated. In Quebec – the province with the most aggressive pandemic response – there were discussions to tax the unvaccinated (though this was eventually scrapped this week).

This demonstrated that Canadians, more than their American counterparts, are largely compliant, by nature. Not out of presumed superiority, as a Canadian wittily remarked of his nation's affinity for deference. Canadians opt for caution, compromise, and compromise, even when dealing with mistakes. A modern, largely peaceful nation with fewer social unrests, hesitant to accept a startling death toll as happened in the U.S..

That COVID-19 regulations were widely accepted in Canada highlights a national consensus that values freedom over life. As a society, Canada appeared to have less of an appetite to tolerate a high death toll than the United States (which had around three times the death rate compared to Canada, accounting for population differences).

Trump's words ring true – there must have been poor actors in Ottawa's protests. Some were spotted donning swastikas. Some danced on war monuments. Many openly urinated. As Josh Greenberg brilliantly put it, the absence of violence doesn't imply peacefulness. It only means the ominous presence of protesters is intimidating and unsettling.

However, there were no weapons, no snouts, and no body armor. No instances of violence, attacks, or beatings were reported. Instead, there was vulgarity, raucous shouting, and a plethora of insults and threats from vocal, extremist groups in attendance at the demonstrations.

If there was no violence, it may have been due to fringe thinkers staying away (antiprotest rallies organized by vaccine supporters were cancelled). In fact, politicians politely asked protesters to leave, referring to them respectively as "gentlemen" and "dear people."

Surprisingly, there are no tricks. No deadlines. No ultimatums or boundaries. Government officials make demands but don't enforce them. Disgruntled residents voice complaints but don't march. And the demonstrators shoulder-shake, but they don't leave (at least not the majority).

Now, streets have been closed and many inner-city shops have shuttered. Parliamentary districts are paralyzed, along with the political class. Canadians, who were once told to instinctively follow authority, now find themselves accustomed to its absence. The city prohibits LKWs blocking streets, citing their ire at being inconvenienced. However, there are no lockdowns or orders imposed. The police plan "deescalation" and avert any loss of life or property damage.

Why don't protesters abandon their Ottawa occupation for months, as they've threatened? They may only sway a few. In a country where order is valued more than freedom, their influence is limited. Had freedom truly been a top priority, Canada would have voted the right-wing party into power last year due to their "freedom" rhetoric – instead, they re-elected Trudeau and the Liberals, who condemned the mob.

Even the most despicable protesters belong to us, particularly Canadians. As long as they are not detained or harassed by authorities, tolerated by the public, and ignored by the legislature, they can remain unmolested, shivering on the sidewalks, sleeping in the cold, and frolicking in the wind.

(Foto von Mark Felix/AFP) (Foto von Mark Felix/AFP/Getty Images für AFP)

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The term "opinions" can be used in these sentences:

Tucker Carlson does not share the same opinions as the majority of Canadians regarding Canada's rising authoritarianism.
Despite public criticism, some Americans still hold favorable opinions about the Canadian trucker protests.