The Truckers for Freedom convoy made headlines around the world and inspired similar actions from as far away as Australia and Bolivia. The movement has already been a success as it demonstrated the number of Canadians becoming fed up with COVID-19 restrictions is growing and represents a sizable number of citizens. Decision makers may deny it, but the protests will be influencing their policy choices in days to come..The convoy also exposed the rotten underbelly of Canada’s legacy media establishment as slanted coverage repulsed Canadians and even Americans. Here at the Western Standard we are breaking records for new subscribers as appalled citizens flee mainstream outlets and seek out independent media such as ours. That certainly is a positive outcome not just for us but for independent media in general..Polls indicate a majority of Canadians support ending pandemic restrictions and provinces such as Saskatchewan are doing just that. Even Quebec has backed off on its plan to try to tax unvaccinated people, ostensibly to offset health care costs..Support for freedom and ending pandemic mandates is growing..The Truckers for Freedom protesters have great forward momentum right now, but they have reached a critical point in their protest. They need to start planning an end game involving reasonable goals or they will quickly lose public support and the ground they have gained..As the protesters entrench in Ottawa, I’m reminded of the old Occupy protests that squatted in city parks throughout North America in 2011. While the movement began with a bang and large demonstrations with moderate public support, the support they gained quickly waned as demonstrators began a prolonged camp out in city parks. As numbers dwindled, a more extreme element remained. Demands from the Occupy protesters were bizarre and unreasonable and, eventually, every city had to remove the protesters by force. Nothing significant was gained by their protests..The only formal demands from the leadership of the Truckers for Freedom convoy that can be found right now are an absurd “memorandum of understanding” calling for the governor-general and/or the Canadian senate to intervene and remove Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from power. OK kids, not only is that based on an incorrect interpretation of how our parliamentary democracy works, it would never happen even if it was politically possible. Let’s set the bar somewhere within reason, shall we?.If there are other demands out there, the convoy organizers need to compile them and do a formal press release. I am as aware as anybody how rotten the mainstream press is, but if demonstrators don’t get their point of view out there, the narrative will be taken over on their behalf..The convoy can demand an end to all federal restrictions. That’s within the power of the government and many don’t see that as being an unreasonable request. Again, though, it has to be done realistically and they have to look reasonable when demanding it. There has to be some wiggle room here. The government can’t and won’t let itself appear to completely cave to a protest. Just won’t happen. They may start discussions on timelines or incremental policies to rescind. If the government refuses to even discuss those considerations, the convoy protesters look like the reasonable party in this issue and will maintain public support..The Trudeau Liberals are looking unreasonable here, too. Their insults and vilification of the protests are only making them look worse. If they continue to look intractable on the entire issue, they can be painted as the group prolonging the protests..Protests are a battle to win public support. People will favour a group that appears to be rational and controlled. They will quickly turn on a group that appears unreasonable..Time will become the enemy of the Truckers for Freedom protest as well. The longer they remain entrenched, the more likely it will be for somebody to do something stupid. An eager mainstream media is waiting to pounce on any violent or hateful actions in order to try and paint the entire protest as being that way. While the vast majority of the protesters are good people, there will always be some nuts in the mix and they won’t stay contained forever..What we have now is a standoff. The government is not eager for scenes of police arresting demonstrators and trucks being towed. They can’t let Ottawa remain choked by these trucks interminably either. The convoy is holding some cards here and can make some gains..If the convoy loses enough public support, rest assured the Liberal government will feel emboldened to move in with force and it will be ugly. Nobody will win in that scenario..I want the convoy to win. I truly do..They have made history and can continue to do so in a positive way. We have never seen citizens in Canada standing up like this and it could set a fantastic precedent of people holding government to account. The government is being reminded who’s really in charge and that lesson can stick..They can also blow it..The convoy can remain unreasonable and stubborn. They can lose public support as time passes and can end with an ignoble eviction from Parliament Hill eventually. This will have the effect of setting back future grassroots citizens’ actions..The protest is at a turning point right now. The demonstrators need a plan and an end game or the power will be stripped from them eventually..Learn from the failed Occupy protests in 2011. Embrace reason and yes, even a little compromise so you can avoid their fate..Cory Morgan is Assistant Opinion & Broadcast Editor for the Western Standard.cmorgan@westernstandardonline.com
