Thousands of truck drivers and others protested across the border vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions for a rally on Parliament Hill.

     Over the past week, several teams of truck drivers and supporters from across the country have been making their way to the nation’s capital as part of a “freedom convoy,” which has raised more than $8 million from more than 101,000 donations on GoFundMe. is being collected. Mid Saturday. Some convoy participants have been lining streets in the city and waving flags in front of the hill since Friday.

    More trucks arrived in Ottawa throughout the morning, with hundreds of vehicles Overnight at a major truck stop in Arnprior, Ontario, west of Ottawa along the convoy’s western route.

    Montreal resident Chris Eid, holding a sign that read “small fringe minority” in reference to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments in describing the convoy, said many people disagree with what is happening in the country.

    “And that’s why we are here. We are fighting for our freedom and independence.”

    “All I want is Justin Trudeau talking to the people, to his people. He’s going to unite us and unfortunately he’s doing the opposite.”

 Don Finlayson of Oshawa, Ont., says he received two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine and “got really sick two weeks ago,” but plans to stay in Ottawa for two or three weeks.

    “It’s not just about the jab. As everyone thinks all the truck drivers here are concerned about the mandate. We are not,” said Finlayson, who runs a construction company.

    “We are here for the indigenous people who do not have fresh water. We are here for the children not to wear masks for 10 hours a day…. We are here for the homeless, we are here for the veterans… Not like this We need to make sure all of our Canadians stand together.”

    Freedom Convoy began over a federal government decision to impose a vaccine mandate on Canadian truck drivers across the border, requiring unreported people to quarantine upon their return to Canada. The United States has implemented a similar mandate, requiring unvaccinated truck drivers to quarantine even when entering the country.

    However, the convoy has come to represent a general opposition to vaccine mandates and passports as well as public health restrictions, most of which have been placed under public health orders at the provincial and regional levels.

     Trudeau has previously said that about 90 percent of Canadian truck drivers are vaccinated.

 Speaking to CTV news channel on Saturday, Mike Million, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada, said the survey the organization has conducted shows the number is closer to 75 percent.

    But as is the case with the rest of society, he says there are drivers who support the convoy and others who do not.

   “It’s a bit of a polarizing topic,” he said. “Our union agrees with vaccines, but we have said we were and are against vaccine mandates for essential workers and truck drivers.”

    Conservative leader Erin O’Toole on Friday met some participants of the convoy and said he supports the “right to be heard” of truck drivers.

   Some Conservative lawmakers as well as People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier are expected to arrive on the Hill and show their support for the protesters.

    Officers from several Ontario police forces, including the Toronto, York Area, Durham, London and Ontario Provincial Police, are assisting the Ottawa Police and the RCMP.

    Ottawa police did not report any arrests or any major incidents Friday night. Police is not allowing trucks to be parked in front of the Prime Minister’s Office due to security reasons.

    Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson wrote on twitter Police confirmed that cars parked on the grounds of the National Memorial, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, have been removed, calling the act a “sign of complete disrespect”.

    Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloughi is encouraging city residents to avoid the downtown area. Police are anticipating “significant traffic delays and disruptions” on several roads in the city. MPs and government employees have been advised to stay away from the parliamentary constituency this weekend.

    Police have said that they do not have a fixed number of protesters, but are preparing for the presence of a few thousand people. The Parliamentary Security Service is also anticipating the arrival of 10,000 protesters.

    Blockades have been imposed at various places in the city. As a result, many people have to park elsewhere and walk to Parliament Hill.

    Some trucking industry leaders have raised concerns over the growing rhetoric emanating from the convoys, as well as fringe groups associating themselves with the movement. A group in the convoy known as “Canada Unity” wants to see the Senate and the governor general unilaterally overturn federal vaccine mandates — something that is legally impossible.

    Ottawa police also said they have received a “direct threat” to the safety of their officers from a counter-protest source and are aware of “other groups and individuals” that “may not share the same peaceful goals.” “

    Slowley said talks with convoy organizers have been “productive and cooperative” and that police are ready to investigate, arrest, charge and prosecute anyone who commits violent acts or breaks the law.

    However, he said convoy organizers have assured that the demonstration will be peaceful, with events planned for Saturday and Sunday, he hopes there will be other “lone wolf” protesters not directly affiliated with the main group.

    Slowley also warned “social media actors” who may or may not be in the city but would try to incite “hatred, violence and in some cases criminality”.

    Meanwhile, organizers of the Canadian United Against Hate have canceled a planned personal surveillance in Ottawa to mark the fifth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shootings. Instead, there will be virtually vigilance.