The Canada Truckers’ Protest Manages to Deliver Messaging Conflicts on Both Sides of the Issue – Opinion

As Canada’s grassroots revolt continues, opposing sides in America accuse hypocrisy, and both may be correct.

For a month, it has been remarkable that Americans are so invested in politics of the Maple Leaf Republic. North of the Border issues are only a problem when U.S. players in hockey are trying to renegotiate contracts with NHL clubs. This involves having to consider high taxes, exchange rates, and negotiating salaries. The truckers who are protesting in Canada has attracted a lot of attention and caused serious problems in messaging.

In the typical fashion of modern journalists, the press has misreported on the protest, continuing their predictable pattern. The usual tactic of promoting Justin Trudeau’s talking points was used. However, the evidence that dubious polls indicate national apathy is being disproven by both the large crowds captured on video and the fact that sympathy demonstrations are now taking place in many other Canadian cities. 

Empire Pal-Poutine issued weak and meandering orders, while calling for the thugs who would trample the flag-waving Canucks. The U.S. media obeys their dictates. This same journalism complex that once stood before engulfed auto parts stores and insisted on camera there was nothing violent transpiring, in Frank Drummond earnestness, now tells us that Canadians barbequing on flatbeds and honking horns are truly violent – due to things that just might yet take place. 

It is not only our politically engaged citizens that have become involved in conflict and contradiction. To see bifurcation of messaging in response to 2020 protests, one only has to take a look at the reactions. It is clear that both sides struggle to stay on the same page. This is a clear indication that there has been a convenient of outrage.

You can see that many of those who supported Black Lives Matter and used all their means of resistance to it today find it disgusting that the haulers are parking cars at the Capital. Amazing to see Occupy activists suddenly upset that Canadians were occupying Ottawa streets with Peterbilts. They may be in an irritated because they don’t have to lock out people and see shootings like those at the CHAZ/CHOP military encampments.

Also, it’s amusing to observe the normal opposition voices to the police now marching in support of the RCMPs. To spend years decrying violence by police and then support it with fist bumps, when The Heat gallop in to start trampling indigenous septuagenarians carrying a protest sign and their walker and riding on their horses is a feat of sheer chutzpah. 

However, confusion does not only extend to those on the right who react too quickly. By nature, libertarians as well as conservatives resist government expansion and overreach. This is not about the Republicans in D.C. who seem to have a special comfort level when it comes spending or federal encroachment. The right wing is happy to see a rebellion against statist leaders engaging in power grabs. It’s a matter of repelling mandates from a Quebecois-educated recipient of nepotism, and it is hard to resist the temptation to grab forks.

This has caused some discomfort as standards have changed. While I support workers and capitalists fighting back against corrupt politicians, the tactic makes me hesitate. In 2020, one of the things I took issue with – after the arsons and shootings, mind you – was the protest methods of blocking roads and highways with their activist cholesterol. It was a problem for both businesses and private residences, as well as posing a danger to emergency personnel. This is a problem in Ottawa, even for the most compassionate of people.

A third conflict arises from the intention of truckers to interrupt and interfere in the delivery of goods to disrupt politicians. It is a paradox that has multiple layers, due to both the cause of the protest and the long-standing complaint. The truckers are complaining that the COVID mandates have been impacting their ability to work effectively, so their response to this is…to interrupt commerce. 

The supply chain crisis is also a major economic problem. This is compounded exponentially by truck drivers not being able to deliver goods. Yes, I understand that sometimes you need to enact a crisis in order to grab the attention of the ADD-afflicted politicians – something Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has previously touted while remaining on the sidelines in this fracas. It is not clear that stopping shipping flows will be the most effective way to gain sympathy from the people.

Another problem is the Back the Blue group, which now has to be reconciled barking at the police officers who are trying to stop a large number of their orders. This aspect is not without its nuances. It is not the opposition to the police, but the heavy-handed politicians that send them in. This is further mitigated by reports of police adopting a less-stern approach towards the conflict.

Perhaps this is simply the result of us interfering with the affairs and policies of another country, and then using their resources for our own purposes. If the usually reserved Northerners become politically ornery, it would be foolish on our part to take this energy and use it as a proxy to our narratives. Canadians seem to be becoming impatient. This is not surprising since it’s only natural that our positions have shifted. Perhaps something got lost in translation from Canadian.