The sound of horns blaring announced the arrival of the United We Roll Convoy For Canada as it pulled into North Bay Monday afternoon
A line-up of roughly 90 semi’s, pickup trucks, a large bus, and a few cars snaked into the city, one of many stops the convoy has made since leaving Red Deer, Alberta on February 14, on its way to a rally on Parliament Hill Tuesday morning.
Jason Corbeil, one of the organizers says its primary focus is to unite all Canadians.
“At a time when nobody is agreeing with where the government stands, we’re standing up to the government, getting our voices heard, and we’re showing people that we can do it together. The government isn’t listening to the people. They’re running their own agenda that is not in the best interest of everybody out there, and we’re tired of it.”
Corbeil says building the pipeline and creating jobs is a big part of it their message, but there is more to the cause.
“It is unfortunate that people are taking only that out of it. And that is definitely what started this movement because obviously it is affecting a whole province right now, and nobody seems to care about it. We took it a step further,” said Corbeil.
“We’re after not just the pipelines and Bill C-48 and Bill C-69, we’re after the carbon tax, and there are lots in our group that are opposing the UN migration pact.”
Regina resident Brenda Stettner is overwhelmed by what she describes as growing support along the way.
“It is phenomenal the support we’re getting out here and the love. It has given us a lump in our throats. It is truly amazing,” said Stettner.
“Each province has its own issues. And what this is doing, is uniting every province. It is giving every province a voice, and every province is standing behind each other. It is uniting the Canadian people, that the government seems to be wanting to divide.”
Waiting in North Bay to offer his support was Raymond Morel.
“It was important for me to be here to support the Canadians who are finally standing up for things, and be a part of it,” said Morel.
“I think we’re falling down in a lot of places with our government basically on what they are able to give us, and what they’re able to do. Even here in Ontario, we have job issues, and it is sad. Something’s got to change. We have to stand up and do something about it.”
At stops in every city and small town, people are encouraged to write messages of support on one of the lead vehicles, and North Bay was no exception.
“I wrote my first and last name and North Bay, Ontario,” said Nikita Bond.
“I disagree with everything (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau has been doing, and I think Canadians should be able to work.”
A small group representing yellow vests North Bay were among the first waiting for the convoy to arrive.
“This is more than just the pipeline. This government doesn’t work for us anymore. They just work for themselves. They don’t care about Canadian citizens. They do what they want, and they don’t care about us at all. Right now, we’re in big trouble, and we need people to stand up and take back our country because we’re going to lose it. They’ve made a lot of bad decisions,” said spokesperson Alexandre Caron
The crowd, mostly from the convoy, heard from leaders who stressed the need to stand up to the government, to have their voices heard, and to show that they can do it together.
Wearing a Make Canada Great Again ball cap, Mark Friesen, one of the organizers blames politicians for dividing Canadians.
“Ultimately the message is we have to focus on the root of the issues because if we protest only pipelines, or only the energy industry, or only carbon tax or migrant pact and we separate them, we’re going to be protesting until my kids are long gone,” said Friesen.
“We need to focus our energies on the UN and its sustainable development agenda and the impacts of that agenda. If we can do that, and we can back away from those agendas, Canada will be a much stronger country and a much more prosperous country, and a sovereignty that is protected. We are not against anyone, we are for our country and we have to keep our country sovereign.”
Friesen said there is a core group of about 60 vehicles that left Red Deer last week but suggests as many as 300 have filed in and out along the way, unable to commit to the entire trip.
Another 60 trucks are expected to make it to Ottawa from the east coast for Tuesday’s rally.
“There is a full day of speakers Tuesday and the next day, and we’re just going to voice our concerns. We’re going to get the message out there that we’re unhappy,” said Corbeil.
“A gentleman from Saskatchewan from the farming association will be speaking, Ron Barr from the Greater Ontario Trucking Association, an oil field representative obviously who will be speaking as well. And we have a couple other people who are very well heard in the west and some aboriginal speakers,” said Corbeil.
“This is absolutely non-partisan,” said Friesen.
“We don’t promote any political party. We don’t believe that our establishment parties represent Canadians anyway, so why would we support our establishment? It wouldn’t suit our message. At the end of the day, we are the ones that are going to save the country, because we are the country.”
