Convoys converge for noisy protest in Quebec City as police blanket streets
CBC
Crowds of protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures have converged in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City as local police direct traffic to try to prevent the demonstration from turning into a blockade.
Trucks and smaller vehicles poured into the city from across the province Saturday, joining others that have been demonstrating since Thursday evening. Convoys of drivers have been arriving from different parts of the province including the North Shore, Lower St-Lawrence, Saguenay and Beauce regions.
The protesters, including some families with children, cheered and waving signs calling for the end of vaccine passports and other public health restrictions
Tommy Massé arrived this morning with a convoy from Portneuf, west of Quebec City, along with three of his five children. He said he's protesting for their future.
"I want them to experience the childhood I had when I was young," said Massé. "With all the mandates we have with the [pandemic], I fear they will not be able to have the same childhood."
Christian Martin, who lives in Quebec City, said he came out to protest because he is tired of having to wear masks and he's against vaccine mandates.
Another protester, Vincent Bélanger, said Quebec's vaccine passport "is discriminatory."
A small group of counter protesters also gathered in the area around the National Assembly, with some of them encouraging drivers to honk if they have been vaccinated.
Quebec officials have said while protesters have a right to demonstrate, they will not tolerate vehicles blocking roads.
Earlier in the afternoon, rows of vehicles were driving by the National Assembly honking their horns, many of them flying Canadian and Quebec flags and "freedom" signs from their vehicles.
But as the protest grew, police expanded the area around the National Assembly that is off limits to cars. Honoré-Mercier Boulevard is closed between Grande Allée and Côte d'Abraham boulevards, as is Grande Allée between de Claire-Fontaine Street and Honoré-Mercier Boulevard.
René-Lévesque is also closed off to vehicles, between Honoré-Mercier and de Salaberry Avenue.
Traffic is congested throughout much of the downtown, from the Montcalm area, to the Saint-Roch neighbourhood in the Lower Town.
Quebec City Police (SPVQ) handed out more than 50 tickets during smaller demonstrations on Thursday and Friday evening, mostly for road safety violations.
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