A convoy conducted a "slow-roll" on Ottawa's main highway, followed by a brief occupation of the downtown core on Saturday, in support of farmers' protests in the Netherlands..More than 100 cars and trucks adorned with Canadian and Dutch flags left Kanata and slowly drove east on Highway 417, honking all the way..While the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) attempted to block offramps to prevent the convoy from getting downtown, as part of its 'vehicle exclusion zone' around the Parliamentary Precinct, dozens of vehicles were able to slip past and make their way downtown..The convoy linked up with a rally of more than 150 people that was being held in front of the Dutch embassy just four blocks away from Parliament Hill.."It was a stealth mission," said Bethan Nodwell, an organizer of the group Freedom Fighters Canada, which organized the convoy.."We even passed by the prime minister's house at 24 Sussex Drive. Honk honk!".The convoy was part of a series of protests held across Canada in support of Dutch farmers that have been protesting against incoming environmental regulations. The Netherlands' government wants to reduce nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions to 50% by 2030, which would decimate the country's agricultural industry..Canada's federal government also to reduce emissions 30% by reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers. Canadian farmers have also complained about 35% tariffs on Russian fertilizer imports, and continued vaccine mandates for truck drivers that make it harder to export food to the US..Joyce Rombouts, who lives on a farm in Arnprior, said she has family members in the Netherlands. "A lot of the farmers are losing their rights, some of them are losing their farms, and it's wrong," she said..Rombouts, who wore traditional Dutch clogs to the protest, said if the Netherlands is forced to shut down farms, that will impact "everybody in the world."."They're the second biggest food exporter in the world, next to the United States. So I think everybody should be stocking up, because it's going to be a hard winter for food supplies.".Ottawa resident Joanne Scott, who stood in front of the Dutch embassy holding a 'We Love Dutch Farmers' sign, told the Western Standard she was protesting in support of farmers "all over the world" that are losing their land.."We're out here to say that without farms, there is no food. And you know, they just finished a factory for cricket production for human consumption in London," Scott said.."The Dutch farmers have been supporting us with food for decades. So we need to stand up and support them so they don't lose their land, their property, and their income.".While tractors and other farm equipment participated in other slow-roll events across Canada, none joined Ottawa's convoy. .OPS said on Twitter on Saturday, "We want to remind everyone that in Ontario, you cannot drive farm equipment on a Highway like the 417 & 416 unless there is no other access to the farmland you are working on, and the land must adjoin to a 400-series Highway.".OPS said that on Saturday, a total of 103 tickets were issued and 12 vehicles were towed. ."We discourage the use of vehicles for any form of demonstration or causing significant disruptions to allow us to serve our community," OPS said on Twitter. "We encourage people and groups to exercise their Charter Rights in a legal, peaceful manner, considerate of the rights and freedoms of others."
A convoy conducted a "slow-roll" on Ottawa's main highway, followed by a brief occupation of the downtown core on Saturday, in support of farmers' protests in the Netherlands..More than 100 cars and trucks adorned with Canadian and Dutch flags left Kanata and slowly drove east on Highway 417, honking all the way..While the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) attempted to block offramps to prevent the convoy from getting downtown, as part of its 'vehicle exclusion zone' around the Parliamentary Precinct, dozens of vehicles were able to slip past and make their way downtown..The convoy linked up with a rally of more than 150 people that was being held in front of the Dutch embassy just four blocks away from Parliament Hill.."It was a stealth mission," said Bethan Nodwell, an organizer of the group Freedom Fighters Canada, which organized the convoy.."We even passed by the prime minister's house at 24 Sussex Drive. Honk honk!".The convoy was part of a series of protests held across Canada in support of Dutch farmers that have been protesting against incoming environmental regulations. The Netherlands' government wants to reduce nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions to 50% by 2030, which would decimate the country's agricultural industry..Canada's federal government also to reduce emissions 30% by reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizers. Canadian farmers have also complained about 35% tariffs on Russian fertilizer imports, and continued vaccine mandates for truck drivers that make it harder to export food to the US..Joyce Rombouts, who lives on a farm in Arnprior, said she has family members in the Netherlands. "A lot of the farmers are losing their rights, some of them are losing their farms, and it's wrong," she said..Rombouts, who wore traditional Dutch clogs to the protest, said if the Netherlands is forced to shut down farms, that will impact "everybody in the world."."They're the second biggest food exporter in the world, next to the United States. So I think everybody should be stocking up, because it's going to be a hard winter for food supplies.".Ottawa resident Joanne Scott, who stood in front of the Dutch embassy holding a 'We Love Dutch Farmers' sign, told the Western Standard she was protesting in support of farmers "all over the world" that are losing their land.."We're out here to say that without farms, there is no food. And you know, they just finished a factory for cricket production for human consumption in London," Scott said.."The Dutch farmers have been supporting us with food for decades. So we need to stand up and support them so they don't lose their land, their property, and their income.".While tractors and other farm equipment participated in other slow-roll events across Canada, none joined Ottawa's convoy. .OPS said on Twitter on Saturday, "We want to remind everyone that in Ontario, you cannot drive farm equipment on a Highway like the 417 & 416 unless there is no other access to the farmland you are working on, and the land must adjoin to a 400-series Highway.".OPS said that on Saturday, a total of 103 tickets were issued and 12 vehicles were towed. ."We discourage the use of vehicles for any form of demonstration or causing significant disruptions to allow us to serve our community," OPS said on Twitter. "We encourage people and groups to exercise their Charter Rights in a legal, peaceful manner, considerate of the rights and freedoms of others."
