GoFundMe and the Ottawa convoy protest — your questions answered

As a truck convoy protesting vaccine mandates enters its second week of demonstrations in Ottawa, questions are being asked about GoFundMe and its role in the protest.

Protest organizers have raised more than $10 million through the U.S.-based crowdfunding platform. The money is supposed to cover fuel and other expenses for truckers protesting Canada's pandemic measures.

But the company has called a halt to disbursement of the money raised, citing concerns that the money may not be used in ways that comply with GoFundMe's terms of service.

Here are answers to some questions our readers are asking about GoFundMe and the protest:

Q: Where is the money coming from?

The protest organizers have raised nearly $10.1 million from more than 120,000 donors. The identities and locations of many of those donors remain a mystery.

A CBC analysis found that about one-third of donors were anonymous or used aliases. The fund also has received money from donors in other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland.

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly also spoke this week of a "significant element from the U.S. that have been involved in the funding, the organizing and the demonstrating."

Citing data protection regulations, GoFundMe says it does not make complete information about donors available — even to fundraiser organizers.

Q: Who are the fundraisers?

An organization called Canada Unity has taken responsibility for organizing the convoy. Tamara Lich and B.J. Dichter are listed by GoFundMe as the organizers of the fundraiser.

Lich spoke to the media on Thursday and said the convoy will not leave Ottawa until its demand for an end to all pandemic restrictions is met.

Canada Unity, meanwhile, has published a "memorandum of understanding" calling on Canadian senators and the Governor General to abolish all restrictions related to COVID-19 and reinstate any unvaccinated workers fired due to vaccine mandates.

The document says the Senate and Governor General must "RESIGN their lawful positions of authority immediately" if they do not agree to the group's terms.