Dozens of "slow-roll" vehicle convoys will enter Canadian cities on Saturday to show solidarity with Dutch farmers in the middle of a protest against incoming environmental regulations.."We want to show support for the Dutch farmers, as well as the many problems the Canadian farming industry is facing because of similar policies coming their way," said Bethan Nodwell, an organizer with Freedom Fighters Canada. ."The farmers are yelling, 'Trouble is incoming,' and we need to listen to them.".Slow-roll convoys are planned for 50 cities across Canada this weekend. These include the cities of Vancouver in B.C.; Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer in Alberta; Saskatoon and Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan; Winnipeg and Brandon in Manitoba; Thunder Bay, Kingston, Bancroft, Toronto and Ottawa in Ontario; and Fredericton and Moncton in New Brunswick..According to Freedom Fighters Canada, all vehicles must abide by traffics laws, leave a lane open for emergency vehicles, and not blockade any roadways..The protests are being planned in solidarity with farmers in the Netherlands, who have been protesting incoming government regulations. Dutch farmers blocked major highways in the country with their equipment, and occasionally flaming bales of hay..The Dutch government aims to reduce nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions to 50% by 2030, which would decimate the country's agricultural industry..Canada's government also has plans to halve its emissions by 2030. Agriculture was responsible for approximately 10% of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.."But this is the exact same policy that [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau wants to bring into Canada. This is going to decimate Canadian farming. And they're already hanging on by a thread," Nodwell said..As the Western Standard previously reported, farmers are also facing issues with obtaining fertilizer because of 35% tariffs on Russian exports, and transporting their goods to the U.S. due to vaccine mandates for truck drivers..Nodwell is part of a convoy of vehicles, including tractors, headed to Ottawa on Saturday. She said three convoys from the cities of Renfrew, Brockville, and Gatineau will converge in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon..They plan to do a slow-roll on Highway 417, followed by a rally at the Dutch Embassy in downtown Ottawa..Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said they will once again bring back their vehicle exclusion zone to keep convoys out of the downtown core.."Wellington Street remains closed to vehicles and there is zero tolerance for vehicle-based demonstrations or events within the city's designated control zone in the downtown core. The control zone still remains Laurier (south), Bronson (west) and Elgin (east)," police said in a tweet..OPS also said on Twitter farm equipment can not be driven on highways, "unless there is no other access to the farmland you are working on, and the land must adjoin to a 400-series Highway."."You must take the shortest route possible if you use the highway to get to your land. Don't forget your slow-moving vehicle signage," they said..Nodwell said while Ottawa's slow-roll will be sizable, the one planned for Toronto will be "huge." Six separate convoys from Hamilton, Cambridge, Orangeville, Vaughan, Sunderland-Brock, Newcastle and Barrie will meet at the Vaughn Mills mall in the afternoon..Nodwell pointed out the original Freedom Convoy met at Vaughn Mills before their final push to Ottawa. "It works really well for big trucks, and that's why it's turned into a rendezvous point," she said..Jerome O'Sullivan, an organizer with Freedom Fighters Canada, said he estimates the slow-roll convoy for Edmonton, Alberta will include over 500 vehicles.."They are going straight up Hwy. 2 from Calgary to Edmonton. It's hard to estimate numbers, but I expect it to be rather large," he said..O'Sullivan claimed Saturday's events would be a "test run" for future protests.."Not only is this a showing of support for the Dutch farmers, but also a warning to Trudeau. If he tries to bring these policies to Canada, there will be a equivalent uprising to the one seen in the Netherlands."
