More protesters are expected to descend on Ottawa this weekend to join the now seven-day protest by truckers against public health mandates.
Federal safety minister Marco Mendecino confirmed on twitter yesterday that a request from the city of Ottawa for more RCMP officers had been approved.
Meanwhile, organizer of the Freedom Convoy protest, Tamara Lich, held her first news conference and took exception to the way they had been portrayed in the media.
“So far, no one from the Federal, Provincial or Municipal government has spoken directly with us. Instead, they are using you, the media, to portray us as racists, misogynists and even terrorists. As a woman with Metis heritage, a mother and a grandmother, I am offended,” said Lich.
“The reality is that members of this freedom movement are average, peace loving and law abiding citizens from all walks of life, who are fed up by being disrespected and bullied by our government.”
Lich says they will remain in Ottawa until all levels of government lift all restrictions.
“We are therefore calling on all levels of government in Canada to end all COVID mandates and restrictions. We will continue our protest until we see a clear plan for their elimination,” said Lich.
There is also a protest planned for Toronto this weekend.
And posts on social media show that a contingent from midwestern Ontario is meeting in Walkerton Saturday morning and head to Ottawa.
There are also social media posts indicating a local convoy that will start in Kincardine at 10 a.m. Saturday, meet another group in Goderich and roll out at noon from there and then slow roll through Clinton and Wingham.
–with files from Steve Sabourin
