'This is about freedom': Trucker solidarity convoys converge at Sask. legislature

Semi-truck drivers from across the province travelled in convoys to Regina Saturday afternoon for a solidarity rally in support of the cross-Canada protest calling for an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. 

Following a city police escort, the truckers arrived at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building to find at least 1,000 cheering supporters — many of them holding Canadian flags or signs protesting public health measures.

"This is about freedom and unity," said supporter William Heikoop. "I know I speak for the majority of Canadians when I say that we just want our freedoms back and to be respected."

While most greeted the convoy outside the legislative building, others, like Carol Johnson, lined up along Albert Street South hours earlier to show their support as vehicles arrived in town.

With many loved ones in the trucking industry across Canada, she said it was important that she showed up in solidarity for them. 

"With or without vaccines, I support truckers 100 per cent," Johnson said. "Open those borders up and let's get things back to normal."

Saskatchewan's solidarity rally was one of many held across the country Saturday to coincide with what organizers are calling the "freedom convoy" on Parliament Hill.

That demonstration was originally sparked by truckers in an effort to urge the federal government to drop its vaccine mandate at the Canada-U.S. border for essential workers. However, it has since evolved into a larger, cross-country movement against many public health measures.

For Dustin Hannah — a grain trucker and farmer who travelled in his big rig with his seven-year-old daughter, Kaebri, from Foam Lake, Sask. — Saturday's rally was as much about standing up for long-haulers as it was about calling on the Saskatchewan government to remove its COVID-19 restrictions.

"We need to end the division, end the segregation. Enough is enough," he said. "We need to get back to normal — and not the new normal the government's been pushing."

Similar feelings were echoed by rally supporter Randall Hand.

He emphasized that he's not outwardly against many public health measures, such as the current mask mandate, but noted he would like to see less of a stigma behind the freedom to choose whether to get vaccinated.

"We still wear our masks, but at the same time, this is Canada — you're still allowed some personal freedom," Hand said. "This is a democracy."

In a letter posted to Twitter Saturday morning, Premier Scott Moe thanked truck drivers and said he stands behind them in wanting to axe the vaccination mandate at the Canada-U.S. border.