Ottawa protest inspires talk of copycat convoys in U.S. and beyond

A heated exchange unfolded in Washington a few days ago over a phenomenon not typically known for eliciting passions there.

The topic was a culture-war battle. In Canada. 

In the U.S. Congress, members laced into each other in a debate about the protest in Ottawa and the broader question of vaccine mandates.

A Texas Republican voiced support for the convoy, while mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"I'm perfectly happy to slap around the Canadian prime minister for his absolute, abject failure and to side with Canadian truckers," lawmaker Chip Roy said. 

This was after a Democrat scolded Roy for propagating the absurd lie that Trudeau had escaped to the U.S. and was hiding there. 

"This is disinformation. Your disinformation," said Rep. Mark Takano of California, chiding the Republican for a falsehood-spreading tweet about the Canadian leader. 

That exchange last week underscored the extent to which the truck blockade in Ottawa has gone international, inspiring talk of copycat events in the U.S. and beyond.

WATCH | Protesters are outmanoeuvring law enforcement:

An initial sign of the cross-border spillover came Monday night as trucks were blocked on both sides of the Windsor-Detroit Ambassador Bridge, the most important Canada-U.S. trade link. 

There are now pandemic-related truck convoys planned in all 27 European capitals, New Zealand and elsewhere in the U.S., as right-wing American social media channels buzz with chatter of convoys to Washington.

One Fox News prime-time host after another has devoted segments to trashing Canada's prime minister and toasting the convoy as a cause célèbre. 

Consider this the globalization of right-wing protest. And in this particular trade, Canada now finds itself in the import-export business.

We've imported language and money for the event from Americans.