Canadian Reporter Marc-Andr Cossette on the convoy protests in Ottawa

[tenderfoot]

To the twitter non-users/haters, I linked the full article at the bottom

Link to tweet

:snip:

Link to tweet

full thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1488166329760854021.html

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Summary accords with my impressions. Crybabies with hidden ugly agendas. . . . nt

[Dorian Gray]

2. I feel heartbroken

that the canadians are experiencing what we are here. A rise of anti-semitism, pro-Nazi symbolism, Confederate flag waving, etc. A movement is coopted by supremacists.

Hopefully Canada will fight back against this.

I know people in Toronto who are appalled.

I also know people in Winnipeg who initially supported the convoy but who are now horrified by what they're seeing with the Swastikas, desecration of a war memorial, and the Confederate flag.

Those outliers are trying to use this movement to move more mainstream. I think they have a better chance in our country. Which makes me sad for us. But I hope I'm right for Canada.

[pandr32]

3. There are many reasons this mirrors the right-wing here

While Canada does not have its own Fox News they still pick it up on cable. Koch Industries leases a huge swath of land in Alberta tar sands areas for exploitation and I would certainly expect that they do their dirty best to lobby and influence as they do here. Alberta is very conservative/right wing. Stephen Harper (PM before Justin Trudeau for nine years) was a conservative/right-wing PM and opened the floodgates to American investment.

Canada is resource rich. Truly a magnet for those who want to exploit rather than conserve. (Conservatives don't conserve anything as the handle suggests).

Most Canadians have a smart phone in their hand and are subject to the same social media hazards we are here.

My cousins there, In B.C. are divided in the same way division is a huge issue here. It is heartbreaking.

[Disaffected]

4. "Alberta is very conservative/right wing."

Having lived here almost all my life, I don't believe that is a fair characterization of the province. Conservative (small C) compared to the rest of the country, yes, but compared to other countries, including the US, not nearly so much.

You may be aware the previous provincial government here was the NDP (sometimes described as a "socialist" party and, BTW, the party considered most likely to win the next provincial election). Many folks are also mightily put-out by the Kenny (the Premier) government's approach to dealing with Covid-19 and their "let'er rip" policy in regard to vaccine mandates and restrictions on social gathering. And, the great majority are rightfully appalled by the many of actions and rhetoric originating from the trucker's convoy.

The great majority of Albertans (as is the rest of the country) are also BTW highly supportive of universal healthcare as well as the need for strong climate change mitigation measures.

[pandr32]

5. I am glad to hear Alberta has a small 'c'

My family is from BC and while most I know have been very progressive and/or liberal there has certainly been a shift in attitudes. I blame misinformation and outright propaganda.
I am happy that so many across the country are pushing back against the "freedom convoy" (I've been laughing at the ones I know who were supporting it--the press it is getting isn't pretty) and I hope to hell that universal healthcare resists efforts to privatize.
Still, Canada is a prime target (it is a beautiful, resource-rich country with a relatively small population) for moneyed interests trying to ruin life in the U.S. and everywhere else.

[Disaffected]

6. Small "C" as in "conservative"

rather than large "C" as in the Conservative party (although it's now called the United Conservative Party in Alberta).

As for universal healthcare, it is regarded here by most as a right rather than a privilege and, as such is about as secure as any government policy could be in a democracy.

Yeah, Canada may be a prime target but I'm more concerned about the Russians encroaching into the thawing Artic (against whom Canada alone would not stand much of a chance if things got military). As such, Canada (and most other democracies) is highly dependent on the US for both economic and military power which is one and one very good reason why many Canadians, such as myself, follow US politics and social trends with great interest and concern. As the US goes, we tend to follow...

[pandr32]

7. Russia is a problem for sure

We need to go green and quit Big Oil asap. Russia's biggest export is crude oil.