# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/441 "2022-02-19T15:07:44Z")
The trolls on twitter are showing pictures of some police stomping on people and claiming they are current pictures of what’s happening in Ottawa, when they are actually from the G20 of 2010. I don’t know how they sleep at night. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/442 "2022-02-19T15:26:51Z")
Bots never sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/443 "2022-02-19T15:29:51Z")
The only stompin’ in Ottawa is Tom Connors. There were like a thousand media people there, and every degen had a phone. Good try, though. ---
**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 19, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/444 "2022-02-19T17:34:08Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > There were like a thousand media people there, and every degen had a phone. I want to know which phones they’re using, because there’s no way my battery would have lasted this long! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/445 "2022-02-19T17:43:55Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > some asshole of a protester threw a bicycle at the legs of one of the horses and injured it Are Canadian police horses considered “officers”? Poor horses! First, their medicine gets taken, and now this! ---
**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 19, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/446 "2022-02-19T17:46:41Z")
> “Freedom Convoy” [leader Chris Barber](https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/freedom-convoy-leader-says-he-just-wants-to-go-home-after-spending-night-in-jail) says his “organizing days are over” and he just wants to go home to his farm in Swift Current, Sask., after being arrested and jailed on charges of mischief and obstruct police. It guess it’s all fun and bouncy castles until you spend a night in the cells, and your lawyer tells you that the charges against you could lead to 10 years in jail if you keep this up. For his sake, I hope he does not violate his bail conditions, because he will be watched closely I suspect. I’m not a vindictive person, but I hope that any business that uses his trucking company is boycotted until they refuse to use his trucks. Oh wait, it appears that I actually **am** a vindictive person… ---
**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 19, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/447 "2022-02-19T17:49:16Z")
And there’s definitely a social media push to spread pro-convoy, anti-police propaganda. My housemate has shown me several things she’s seen on her phone feed, and every one of them was some fakery that had already been debunked. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/448 "2022-02-19T17:52:24Z")
Some bail hearings going on now. > > ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/449 "2022-02-19T18:01:38Z")
I wonder if the judge is going to require that she undergo a mental health assessment. Or just tell herthat this is not an episode of _Law and Order_ and/or that the Canadian courts do not operate under United States Law. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/450 "2022-02-19T18:01:53Z")
Here’s an article in WaPo focusing on the presence of all the children, and how that complicates everything. > **[The children of the ‘Freedom Convoy’: Kids with protesting parents complicate...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/17/freedom-convoy-children-ottawa-protest/)** > > They’re a defining feature of the self-styled “Freedom Convoy” — and a major concern for authorities trying to end the weeks-long standoff that has paralyzed the capital. > [@](#): > > “If you are heading up to Ottawa … bring bouncy castles or bubble soccer bumpers, consider contributing to the fun!” a Facebook page associated with Freedom Convoy 2022, one of the organizing bodies, posted Thursday, as police warned action to clear the protests was “imminent.” If you are heading up to Ottawa . . . . . . be sure to wear some flowers in your hair! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/451 "2022-02-19T18:01:59Z")
Truckers work hard. Most are vaccinated. Some are not, and had reasonable questions about why a mandate now, when most are vaccinated and risks are lower. Others want the freedom not to get vaccinated, and the opinion and safety of others is not their prime concern. Canadians are tolerant and would have put up with a week of protests. Who wants to pay millions to encourage troublemakers in perpetuity? Why should a small group get to hold anyone to economic terrorism? There are many opinions on this, of course - the press wanted something done than claimed the emergency was receding after the Act was passed because the border improved before Ottawa did, so was too much. It was not. Can’t please everyone, and there are many safeguards and signs of restraint from my perspective. The Globe had a piece this morning blaming Trudeau. Guessing Ibbotson doesn’t live in Ottawa though. Enough. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/452 "2022-02-19T18:04:52Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Or just tell him that this is not an episode of _Law and Order_ and/or that the Canadian courts do not operate under United States Law. Do Canadian flags in Canadian courtrooms have gold fringes? > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Are Canadian police horses considered “officers”? Poor horses! First, their medicine gets taken, and now this! IANA Canadian nor lawyer, but I would venture to guess so. In America, police dogs are generally considered “officers” (I don’t know how formally or legally so), and interfering or injuring with them has consequences. Police horses would certainly be treated likewise. ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/453 "2022-02-19T18:05:03Z")
One of the main purposes of this shit-show was to “Blame Trudeau”. For many of them, that was basically it. So of course, the opposition jumped on this bandwagon, as did the usual suspects in the media. Rex (Senile) Murphy being one of the ringleaders. The whole pile of bullshit was politically driven from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/454 "2022-02-19T18:06:01Z")
I do not agree with this column at all. But here is the alternate point of view, expressed for “hearing all sides” more than for accuracy. For many protestors, I think it was more about the protestors. Were they interested in fairness? How can this column not mention the effect of Trump on global politics? > **[Trudeau must bear the blame for his divisive words and actions](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-must-bear-the-blame-for-his-divisive-words-and-actions/)** > > Previous PMs have angered and polarized Canadians, but never to this degree and never leaving such poisoned detritus ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/455 "2022-02-19T18:19:38Z")
The “protestors” wanted only one thing here: Trudeau’s resignation. They wanted to install a right-wing government, after a recent election had seen their party lose, and their leader resign. Of course this was cloaked in stupidity and conspiracy theories, as they blamed him for Provincial mandates and United States mandates. And/or they think vaccines and covid are a hoax. But the bottom line of this idiotic protest was always to have a do-over of the recent election. (or not exactly a do-over, but merely installing their preferred losing party.) At the beginning, Trudeau had a choice; resign, or wait for the Ottawa police and Ontario police to do their job. He waited. Week two, same choice. He waited. Week three, police in Ottawa had done nothing, the Province of Ontario had done nothing, and the situation was about to boil over, with armed men at the border threatening to shoot RCMP, and the Ottawa public getting fed up and taking things into their own hands. His choices: Wait some more, resign or Do Something. He chose “Do Something”, and now, of course the usual suspects are whining that he was too harsh, to mean to the people who occupied our capitol for the purpose of overthrowing an elected government. So now these muppets will hate Trudeau more. I guess instead of hating him with the power of 100 suns, it will be hating him with the power of 1000 suns. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/456 "2022-02-19T18:21:24Z")
They didn’t get there way in the election and are trying to make this into a ‘do over’, I think. Using tactics they’ve seen succeed south of the border. That patient, calm minds have proceeded cautiously and slowly, while infuriating, is still the way Canadians want to see ‘emergency measures’, applied, in my opinion. The only people trying to use this to further the political divide are the protestors, but it’s winning them converts I’d bet. More worrisome is already prodigious pressures and funding, coming from the American right wing, are likely to intensify. Feeling they’ve made inroads that can be further exploited, no doubt. ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/457 "2022-02-19T18:23:30Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Do Canadian flags in Canadian courtrooms have gold fringes? Actually, Canadian courtrooms–at least those that I have been in–don’t have Canadian flags. Nor is there a picture of the Queen. A flag and a picture of the Queen would be somewhere in the courthouse’s lobby, though. All there is in a Canadian courtroom, is the national coat of arms mounted on the wall behind the judge. ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/458 "2022-02-19T18:24:43Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > The trolls on twitter are showing pictures of some police stomping on people and claiming they are current pictures of what’s happening in Ottawa, when they are actually from the G20 of 2010. It’s quite telling that the only photos they can find of police brutality against protesters are derived from a left-wing protest. These fools really are coming from a place of privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/459 "2022-02-19T18:29:42Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > The “protestors” wanted only one thing here: Trudeau’s resignation. They wanted to install a right-wing government, after a recent election had seen their party lose, and their leader resign. Cite: > **[Far-right groups hope trucker protest will be Canada’s ‘January 6th’  -...](https://globalnews.ca/news/8537433/far-right-groups-trucker-protest-jan-6/)** > > Whatever legitimate grievances protesters might have, far right and white nationalist groups see the “Freedom Convoy” headed for Ottawa as an opportunity.  ---
**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 19, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186/460 "2022-02-19T18:36:20Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > That patient, calm minds have proceeded cautiously and slowly, while infuriating, is still the way Canadians want to see ‘emergency measures’, applied, in my opinion. And of course, in a month or so when the Emergency powers have expired, and Canada is back to normal, and free citizens can hang out in downtown Ottawa in safety, none of these, “Well, I guess we live in Nazi Canada now!” idiots will admit they were full of shit this whole time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-freedom-convoy/959186.md?page=24)