Trucker convoy rolling into Arnprior truck stop Friday
Thousands of truckers from across the country are gathering momentum and support for their convoy, calling for their freedoms to return.
The group called Canada Unity is calling for an end to the vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the Canada-United States border.
They are also calling for an end to vaccine passports, all fines related to COVID violations, and for employees terminated because of vaccine policies to be reinstated.
Multiple convoys from all corners of the country are expected to come together on Parliament Hill on Saturday. On Tuesday, the western Canada convoy travelled from Regina, Sask., to Kenora, Ont.
On Friday, hundreds of trucks are expected to descend on Arnprior at the Antrim Truck Stop before the final push to Ottawa.
"This business was built on trucking, how could I not support the trucking industry?" says Tom Orr, owner of the Antrim Truck Stop. "Do I believe there's bigger issues than the vaccination, with this much support? There's a lots of things that could have been done with this much support."
On Tuesday, Orr met with local police to discuss security options for when the mass gathering arrives, but is expecting to have to handle the crowds on his own.
"Police officer told me they expect 400 to 500 trucks," says Orr. "So there's no way we can accept that, and there's going to be 400 or 500 cars because the locals are going to want to come out and see all this."
Orr says Antrim will do everything it can to accommodate those that arrive with the convoy, but is asking for respect towards the property, its rules, and the COVID-19 guidelines in place.
"We got a little flack because we weren't opening the restaurant and just having a free-for-all," Orr tells CTV News. "We can't do that. We have to follow the guidelines. Right now it's 10 people in a gathering and we're being held to that. I don't know how we can control that."
A convoy opposing vaccine mandates for cross-border travel for truckers passed through Regina on Monday evening. (CTV Regina)
Trucker Ralph Harple stopped in at the Antrim Truck Stop Tuesday.
Harple says he is double vaccinated and has had no problem making deliveries to the United States.
"For the guys that it's a big deal for, it's a big deal," says the east coast truck driver. "To me personally, it's not that big a deal."
The Canadian Trucking Alliance says that trucker vaccination rates are in line with those of the general public. In a statement on Tuesday, the CTA wrote:
"The Government of Canada and the Canadian Trucking Alliance both agree that vaccination, used in combination with preventative public health measures, is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians, and to protect public health."
In the lead-up to Friday and with room for only 150 trucks, Orr is reaching out to any open lots that may have space for members of the convoy.
"I support them and I hope that something happens as long as it's peaceful and everyone is safe."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.