Unhappy with mandatory vaccination! Canadian Prime Minister loses patience with truck drivers, Bitcoin community donates to help compatriots

The trucker protests at the U.S.-Canada border have shown no signs of abating, with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau expressing his frustration with the protesters and warning that if they do not disperse and clear the area, the government will take action at any cost, and these protesters may face "real consequences."

The trucker protest in Canada has received around $1 million in donations from about 5,000 Bitcoin holders.

Trudeau tweeted that he had discussed the bridge blockades with Biden, saying, "We agree that for the safety of our people and our economy, these blockades cannot continue."

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Why are Canadian truck drivers protesting?

Despite many countries starting to relax border restrictions, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not eased restrictions in Canada, even requiring individuals entering Canada to be fully vaccinated. Truck drivers began expressing their protests starting on January 15.

According to The New York Times, over 55,000 professional drivers, including 15,000 long-haul truck drivers, participated in the protest. However, François Laporte, the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance, condemned the protest, claiming that the protesters do not represent the 90% of drivers who have been vaccinated.

Protesters have stated that they will not leave until all vaccine mandates and Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. The protests began with the "Freedom Convoy" occupying downtown Ottawa and blocking the "Ambassador Bridge" connecting Ontario, Canada, and Michigan, USA. Initially, both directions of traffic were halted due to the protests, but lanes heading to the U.S. reopened on the evening of the 8th. The choice of the Ambassador Bridge was significant as it is the busiest land border crossing between the two countries, with an average of 8,000 trucks passing through daily.

What started as a protest by the "Freedom Convoy" against government pandemic measures at the end of January quickly escalated into a nationwide movement against both pandemic measures and the Trudeau government.

The bridge closures have resulted in delayed parts shipments and shortages, leading to production cuts at several factories of General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Stellantis in the U.S. and Canada this week.

Why are Canadian truck drivers receiving Bitcoin donations?

The non-profit fundraising organization GoFundMe raised $10 million to assist these drivers, but after distributing $1 million, GoFundMe decided to stop payments, citing that "peaceful protests have turned into occupation." This protest has sparked another situation where automotive supply disruptions are causing production declines, potentially resulting in workers losing wages.

As a result, the Bitcoin community began to advocate for "helping our own people" and initiated Bitcoin donations.

Two cryptocurrency funds successfully reached their goals, one raising 100 Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and the other raising 21 Bitcoin. Some donations were sent through addresses, while others were made through payment processors like BitPay.

This protest against mandatory vaccinations not only affects the U.S. but has also prompted responses from Europe, New Zealand, and beyond. In Paris, France, anti-vaccine protesters gathered on the evening of the 11th.

This article is authorized and reproduced from Horizon News Network.