# Canadian 'dopers, Freedom Convoy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 10, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186 "2022-02-10T00:07:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/281 "2022-02-15T19:37:05Z")
I heard he conspired with Soros and Hillary Clinton to release the virus. It’s all on Hillary’s email server! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/282 "2022-02-15T19:43:15Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > And meanwhile we are supposed to be compassionate and understanding of their victim-hood (eg Candice Bergen grilling the liberal party on not extending an olive branch ffs) even though, after two years they refuse to listen and have been major contributors to this thing lasting two years. Yeah, I love this narrative of “They refuse to listen to us!” when we’ve spent two years trying to sit down and explain this to them patiently, only to be met by the same stupidity the very next day. How many times do we have to explain to an anti-masker that yes, stores are allowed to refuse service, and that’s not a violation of your human rights, before we can say, “Okay, that’s enough of your bullshit, sir”? > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > And the Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly is out. Yeah, saw that earlier. There’s a lot of speculation on reddit that the real problem is that Sloly lost control of the rank and file officers. Other stories report that some cops were frustrated at the lack of clear leadership this whole time. I guess we’ll be testing those theories when we see how the force acts under whoever replaces him. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/283 "2022-02-15T19:56:39Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > cops were frustrated at the lack of clear leadership this whole time What I truly don’t understand is why the police didn’t, early on, cordon off Coventry and the approximately three or four relevant blocks of Wellington. It really would not have been difficult and could have been used as check points to prevent inputs of the egregious things such as later fuel deliveries etc. If the Montreal Jazz Festival volunteers can do bag checks at its entry points, then surely to god the Ottawa Police Service can do the same thing at a baseball stadium, and a section of street that is almost a tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/284 "2022-02-15T20:12:40Z")
Here are some of the good people that were helping with the blockades at the border crossings: [At least three Coutts protesters charged with conspiracy to commit murder](https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/suspects-arrested-by-mounties-at-coutts-border-blockade-make-first-court-appearance) If your protest contains people who plan to murder the police, you might just not be on the right side. [Yes, you might be the baddies.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOpPNra4bw) ETA: And of course the first comment in the linked newspaper article is that the fact that these armed violent criminals were there is all Trudeau’s fault. Good God. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/285 "2022-02-15T22:14:52Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > What I truly don’t understand is why the police didn’t, early on, cordon off Coventry and the approximately three or four relevant blocks of Wellington. It really would not have been difficult and could have been used as check points to prevent inputs of the egregious things such as later fuel deliveries etc. If the Montreal Jazz Festival volunteers can do bag checks at its entry points, then surely to god the Ottawa Police Service can do the same thing at a baseball stadium, and a section of street that is almost a tunnel. Really good questions, that a lot of people in Ottawa would really like really good answers for. Alas, answers seem not to be forthcoming. I watched a bit of the police services board meeting today with the new acting chief, and it seemed like the same old non-answers we’ve been getting since this started. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > ETA: And of course the first comment in the linked newspaper article is that the fact that these armed violent criminals were there is all Trudeau’s fault. Good God. Yeah, the good old “Look what you made me do!” abuser tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/286 "2022-02-15T22:23:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Here are some of the good people that were helping with the blockades at the border crossings: > > [At least three Coutts protesters charged with conspiracy to commit murder](https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime/suspects-arrested-by-mounties-at-coutts-border-blockade-make-first-court-appearance) A follow-up to that: > **[Bail hearings held for 13 charged in Coutts convoy](https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/02/15/bail-hearings-held-for-13-charged-in-coutts-convoy/)** > > LETHBRIDGE, AB - \*\*\*Update - Additional individuals charged.A bail hearing marathon was held in Lethbridge Pro... Briefly, of the 11 accused, 8 were released under conditions; the remaining 3 were denied bail, and remanded back into custody. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/287 "2022-02-16T00:27:21Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Well, that might explain why they don’t know which _particular_ issues are federal government or provincial government, but with the US having a very similar federal/state structure, you’d think they’d at least be aware of the concept of State vs. Federal jurisdiction. Well, no - the US has a LOT of dumb bunnies who don’t understand their own government’s structure, much less anyone else’s. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/288 "2022-02-16T00:33:51Z")
Yeah, but aren’t these the same group of dumb bunnies who usually go on about “States’ Rights”? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/289 "2022-02-16T00:40:49Z")
Yeah, or “Freeman on the land” sovereign citizen stuff. ---
**Author:** ![TigerGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@TigerGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigerGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/290 "2022-02-16T01:43:03Z")
At this point I have to question the practicality of vaccine mandates. The existing vaccines aren’t geared to Omicron and don’t prevent infection or spread. So we see both the vaccinated and unvaccinated now being infected and spreading the disease at about the same rate. Now the variant has almost burned itself out and we see different parts of Canada and the United States beginning to open up, infections dropping, and possibly the end of the pandemic. It really doesn’t make much sense now to _insist_ that people be vaccinated when entering the country - especially now that so many people have either been exposed or been vaccinated and herd immunity is being reached. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/291 "2022-02-16T02:08:11Z")
> [@TigerGuy](#): > > So we see both the vaccinated and unvaccinated now being infected and spreading the disease at about the same rate. This is a point that has been made many, many, many times before, so pay attention this time: **It’s not just about infections.** It’s also about the severity of the disease, and the effect that has on our health systems, and the number of people dying of this disease. The unvaccinated are using a hugely disproportionate amount of our health resources, placing unnecessary extra strain on a system that has spent two years now working beyond its capacity. This has led to, and continues to lead to, other people having to delay health care in order to save the lives of people too goddamned selfish to care about anyone other than themselves. _This needs to stop._ ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/292 "2022-02-16T04:50:43Z")
The vax mandates will be gone within weeks. And always would have been, without any nut job convoy of wannabe Trumpers. Like all the other health measures, they had their use, they did offer a layer protection at the time, and they were always only temporary. They were simply one tool among many used to contain a worst case scenario. Canada has fared well, all of the measures played some part in that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/293 "2022-02-16T05:00:21Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I watched a bit of the police services board meeting today with the new acting chief, and it seemed like the same old non-answers we’ve been getting since this started. It was Sloly who earlier in the occupation said it was a problem for “society” to solve. I’ll have to try that the next time I get a speeding ticket. “Officer, don’t you think society should solve this?” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/294 "2022-02-16T09:16:38Z")
> [@TigerGuy](#): > > At this point I have to question the practicality of vaccine mandates. The existing vaccines aren’t geared to Omicron and don’t prevent infection or spread This really can’t be repeated often enough: **The primary purpose of the vaccine is to reduce the SEVERITY of the infection.** That has always been the case. To reduce the severity and keep you from needing a hospital or dying. And if you can’t see why that is practical I’m not sure what more can be said. > [@TigerGuy](#): > > So we see both the vaccinated and unvaccinated now being infected and spreading the disease at about the same rate Incorrect - while both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are contagious, the vaccinated produce less virus for a shorter time period. So the vaccinated are less contagious for shorter time period. > [@TigerGuy](#): > > It really doesn’t make much sense now to _insist_ that people be vaccinated when entering the country Why not? Nations can impose whatever entry requirements they want. 90% of truckers are already vaccinated. If people who drive for a living, especially those routinely crossing an international border, don’t want to comply with health requirements they can find a different job to do. I have zero sympathy for them. No one is entitled to a particular job. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/295 "2022-02-16T13:18:07Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Nations can impose whatever entry requirements they want. 90% of truckers are already vaccinated. If people who drive for a living, especially those routinely crossing an international border, **don’t want to comply with health requirements they can find a different job to do**. I have zero sympathy for them. No one is entitled to a particular job. Bolding mine. Pretty sure an annual physical is required for a CDL and you have to fall in a certain range for things like blood pressure and stuff. So the job already has medical requirements. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/296 "2022-02-16T13:19:04Z")
Medical _mandates_, one might say… ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/297 "2022-02-16T13:20:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > > [@TigerGuy](#): > > > > At this point I have to question the practicality of vaccine mandates. The existing vaccines aren’t geared to Omicron and don’t prevent infection or spread > > This really can’t be repeated often enough: > > **The primary purpose of the vaccine is to reduce the SEVERITY of the infection.** > > That has always been the case. To reduce the severity and keep you from needing a hospital or dying. And if you can’t see why that is practical I’m not sure what more can be said. > > > [@TigerGuy](#): > > > > So we see both the vaccinated and unvaccinated now being infected and spreading the disease at about the same rate > > Incorrect - while both the vaccinated and unvaccinated are contagious, the vaccinated produce less virus for a shorter time period. So the vaccinated are less contagious for shorter time period. > > > [@TigerGuy](#): > > > > It really doesn’t make much sense now to _insist_ that people be vaccinated when entering the country > > Why not? > > Nations can impose whatever entry requirements they want. 90% of truckers are already vaccinated. If people who drive for a living, especially those routinely crossing an international border, don’t want to comply with health requirements they can find a different job to do. I have zero sympathy for them. No one is entitled to a particular job. 100% agree. This anti vax convoy is supported (for the most part) by the Canadian Conservative party to the extent the interim leader has photo-opped eating dinner with certain members of this group. Sects have been found with large caches of guns and ammunition obviously prepared for violent confrontations. It all started as a “truckers protest” having to show vaccine passports to get into the US. So, cause all kinds of harm to fellow law abiding Canadians because you don’t like a US rule and if that isn’t enough, well over 80% (some have said over 90%) of Canadian truckers are vaccinated anyway. It’s practically a non issue. As far as I’m concerned, haul all these “Mother Truckers” away. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/298 "2022-02-16T14:16:18Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > It all started as a “truckers protest” having to show vaccine passports to get into the US. And that was always just a smokescreen anyways. The people organizing this just wanted to use the truckers as cover for their more nefarious nonsense. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised so many people fell for this ruse. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/299 "2022-02-16T16:34:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > 90% of truckers are already vaccinated. Out of curiosity, I have come to understand that the average “truck” these people own is a pickup truck rather than a big rig, and that the connection to the kind of truckers that have real transportation jobs and are actually potentially affected by the mandate is tenuous at best. Is that accurate? Just because it puts a different colour on the protest. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/300 "2022-02-16T16:45:50Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Is that accurate? I don’t know if it’s accurate, but the pictures I’ve seen do feature an awful lot of pickups alongside the big tractor rigs. My belief is the following. There are many legitimate reasons for owning a pickup truck and I have no quarrel with those who do so for those reasons. That said, if I were to draw a Venn diagram of pickup truck owners, and another one of redneck assholes, there would be a substantial overlap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186.md?page=16)