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Canada has employed strict restrictions in its efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic. But unlike in the United States, such measures have received very little pushback or politicization.
However, a month ago, a law was passed requiring truckers who cross the border into the United States to be vaccinated, threatening the livelihoods of unvaccinated truckers.
So a group of them, along with other organizations, assembled a convoy and drove across Canada toward the capital, Ottawa, in protest.
The demonstration, which many thought would last only a few days, has turned into a noisy, three-week occupation and has led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare a state of national emergency.
We ask how Canada got to this point, and hear what the protest is like on the ground.
On today’s episode
Catherine Porter, the Toronto bureau chief for The New York Times.
Background reading
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The trucker protests seem to challenge the cherished image that Canadians are moderate, rule-following and just plain nice. But was that really a myth all along?
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The fractious coalition behind Canada’s protests include former law enforcement officers, military veterans and conservative organizers.
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Transcripts of each episode are available by the next workday. You can find them at the top of the page.
Catherine Porter contributed reporting.
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