On February 18, 2023, a group of Freedom Convoy supporters held a demonstration on Parliament Hill to mark the anniversary of the police operation that removed protest convoys from Ottawa. Ottawa Yes helps us revisit those events, from their origins to their aftermath.
The Rally on Parliament Hill
A group of activists and Freedom Convoy supporters marched through central Ottawa on the first anniversary of the large-scale police operation in 2023—an event that brought back memories of 2022. Residents of Ottawa recall how, starting February 18, 2022, over a hundred police officers tried to disperse protesters who had occupied the city’s downtown core for more than three weeks.
The demonstration came after Justice Paul Rouleau released findings justifying the suppression of protest convoys in Ottawa and at border crossings in Manitoba and Alberta. Protesters gathered on Parliament Hill holding their customary Freedom Convoy symbols and signs. Many also displayed messages opposing vaccination or condemning the actions of the Prime Minister.
What Is the “Freedom Convoy”?
Beginning in late January 2022 (lasting 23 days), a hundred trucks, pickups, and other vehicles gathered in Ottawa’s downtown core. They protested COVID-related social restrictions and vaccine requirements. Many vehicles bore Canadian flags and signs demanding an end to mandates for work, travel, and more.
Under the banner of Freedom Convoy 2022, the group blocked roads in central Ottawa, disrupting everyday life for residents. Tens of thousands of people assembled near Parliament to show their solidarity with the movement. The blockade led to production cuts and halted operations at numerous businesses.
On February 13, 2022, Ottawa Police arrested between 25 and 30 protesters. The next day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned of a threat to national security. Starting February 18, 2022, hundreds of police officers moved in with batons, pepper spray, and firearms to clear the protesters. Over 200 people were arrested, nearly 400 criminal cases were opened, and by February 20, 2022, the city’s main streets stood deserted.
How Did “Freedom Convoy 2022” Begin in Ottawa?
Initially, the protest was organized by a small team of long-haul truckers from Western Canada, intending a peaceful demonstration. Their goal was to lift mandatory vaccination requirements at every level of government in Canada.
In an open letter to lawmakers, the Freedom Convoy participants claimed they had been met with violent police tactics against what they considered a peaceful protest.
On February 23, 2022, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that the city was no longer in a state of emergency. He informed the public that order had been restored and the blockades had ended.
Did Canadians Support the Protesters?
A 2022 poll measured Canadian support for the Freedom Convoy 2022 movement:
- 46% agreed that the measures taken against the protesters were unfair.
- 54% believed the protesters were in the wrong.
Further data from the Angus Reid Institute indicated that more than 70% of respondents opposed such demonstrations. One year after the protest, in 2023, some Ottawans commemorated the event and marched downtown in support of Freedom Convoy 2022.