OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Protesters from the Canadian trucker convoy took their message to the capital city’s busiest airport Thursday morning, slowly circling the airport’s arrivals and departures lanes and honking their horns.
About 70 trucks were making the rounds “in an attempt to disrupt operations,” the Ottawa International Airport Authority said in a statement.
Pat King, one of the convoy’s key organizers, claimed on Facebook, “We’re having a parade.”
He added that they had been circling the airport for about two hours and didn’t have plans to stop.
The City of Ottawa sent out a tweet warning passengers to “expect delays” and that the duration was “unknown.”
Canada, the convoy for freedom has arrived at Ottawa International Airport. pic.twitter.com/wy0KW6bwlZ
— RadioGenova (@RadioGenova) February 10, 2022
“We are very disappointed that the protesters have chosen to disrupt an industry that has already been decimated by the pandemic,” the airport authority said. “The Ottawa International Airport is an important link for essential products and services for Canada’s north, and an important economic engine for the region.”
“Disrupting our airport will hurt people who are already suffering, including passengers and employees who rely on our industry for their livelihood and well-being.”
So far, there have been no canceled or delayed flights as a result of the airport protest. But that could change, an airport official said.
In Ottawa, residents were once again advised to avoid all nonessential travel, “especially downtown.”
Thursday marks Day 14 of the protests that began after a group of Canadian truckers and their supporters drove from Western Canada to Ottawa to challenge a regulation that requires truckers returning from the United States to show proof of vaccination. If the truckers are not fully vaccinated, they will be subjected to COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements. There are similar requirements on the U.S. side of the border.
Though the Ottawa protest began with the truckers, it has shifted to a wider focus that demands all COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown measures be lifted.
Over the past few days, the protests have grown dramatically in size and support, with most of the frustration felt by the pandemic-fatigued public aimed directly at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau initially tried to dismiss the demonstrations, arguing they did not represent the majority. However, as the protests continued, he intensified his tone toward the truckers. He claimed they stole food from the homeless, desecrated war memorials, flew racist flags, and spread disinformation. Protesters pushed back on the allegations and accused Trudeau of stretching the truth to discredit them.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency on Feb. 6.
On Wednesday, Ottawa police sent their sternest warning yet to truckers camped out near Parliament Hill, saying those who continue to block streets could be arrested, fined, or have their vehicles confiscated.
Ottawa police said Wednesday they had made 23 arrests and issued 1,300 fines for violations such as excessive horn-honking, the use of fireworks, and the public consumption of alcohol. Police have also confiscated hundreds of gallons of diesel collected by protesters.
“Someone is going to get killed or seriously injured because of the irresponsible behavior of some of these people,” Watson said.
The latest pushback from authorities seems to have only strengthened the resolve of the truckers and their supporters, who have vowed to remain in place until vaccine mandates and other coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted.
“I am here to fight for freedom,” Camille Dagenais told the Washington Examiner. Dagenais’s mother was fired from her government job in Canada three months ago after refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
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“Why should my family be forced to get a vaccine for a job?” she said. “Freedom is freedom of choice, freedom of speech, and Trudeau is just deciding to take all of that away from us.”
Dagenais, her father Junior, and her mother have braved the freezing Canadian weather to stand in solidarity with the truckers and said they will keep coming to Ottawa until there’s a full reversal of all COVID-19 mandates across the country.
Amid the resistance in Ottawa, four Canadian provinces have lifted some of their mandates.
