It’s time for truckers protesting in Ottawa to leave

The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC) was very disturbed with some of the images we saw and reports we heard out of Ottawa this past weekend. The desecration of national monuments of our fallen heroes, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the statue of Terry Fox, were disgraceful and disrespectful acts.

The images we saw of people carrying the rebel flag, swastikas, wearing the yellow star of David, engaging in disrespectful behaviors and refusing to wear masks and follow public health guidelines while in public places, as well as stealing food from the Shepherds of Good Hope food kitchen were reprehensible acts that upset us all. Actions like this have no place in Canadian society, and do not represent the views of the industry, or those of Canadians, and must never be accepted.

The majority of the trucking industry, and the vast majority of drivers, were not involved in this convoy in any way, and continued to work to ensure our essential supplies were delivered.

For those drivers who were at the protest, and respectful, we thank you for protesting politely. We have even heard stories about a group of drivers who went to No Frills and purchased a bunch of food and donated it to the Shepherds of Good Hope. They also placed flowers at the war memorial after the actions mentioned above. Actions like these are what represent the vast majority of our industry and Canadians.

For the protesters that remain in Ottawa today, however, it is time to pack up and leave. Your message has been heard. The people of Ottawa should be allowed to get back to their lives, which have been disrupted for three days now.

People need to get to work, take their kids to school, and open their businesses – the very things some of the protesters claim to be fighting for. The people of Ottawa are not being allowed to do these things right now as a result of the continued gridlock of Ottawa’s neighborhoods.

The convoy organizers have been able to raise a lot of funds as a result of this protest – more than $9 million at last count. If you haven’t already, to show your willingness to make reparations for the disgraceful actions of some, it would be a very nice gesture if you were to take some of the funds and make a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation, The Royal Canadian Legion as well as the Shepherds of Good Hope.

Many in the Trucking Industry, who were not at the protest, already have, as has the PMTC. It would also be a nice gesture to find a way to support some of the local Ottawa businesses that have been affected.

In recent days we have now seen land borders – Coutts, Alta., being the worst – being blockaded to impede traffic from crossing the international border. These actions slow international trade and put heavy constraints on an already strained supply chain. While the PMTC does not support vaccine mandates for truck drivers and has lobbied government to reconsider, we do not support the actions that have been taken in recent days.

To be clear, while we do not support the vaccine mandate regulations for truck drivers, the PMTC board is still in full support of people getting vaccinated. We believe in the science and the medical experts who tell us vaccinations are our best way out of this pandemic. We encourage everyone who can, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Peaceful protests are allowed under the constitution, but when they begin to infringe on other citizens’ rights, their safety, ability to move freely, as well as their ability to make a living, that’s when things have been taken too far.

I am proud to have been part of this industry for 32 years, the first eight as a driver. It is a great industry, that is full of proud hardworking men and women. The events we saw this weekend, which have been attributed to our industry, have sullied the view of the industry in the eyes of many.

Although for the most part, this turned into more of a protest then it did a convoy, many in the public will still associate these actions with truckers. That is a shame, as many I have spoken with who were on the ground indicated passenger cars outnumbered trucks by a margin of at least 4:1, and the majority of the truckers there were peaceful, polite and respectful.  Nevertheless, when you allow yourself to become part of something that gets out of hand, there is a price that comes with it.

To those who don’t share the views of the minority of bad actors we saw this weekend with their use of language, signs, and actions, speak up! Defend your industry, defend yourself, and more importantly, defend your fellow human beings! Let’s ensure we always show what it means to be a proud Canadian and a proud part of this industry, by doing the right thing.