Fundraiser for rally to protest vaccine mandate on truckers exceeds $2M
A movement, called Freedom Convoy 2022, is only a week old but the Alberta organizer of a fundraising campaign to support the event has raised more than $2 million for the effort.
The campaign was started by Tamara Lich, a Medicine Hat woman who says she is in opposition to the federal government's rules and regulations in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the GoFundMe page, the money is expected to go toward the cost of fuel, food and accommodation for the protesters who are participating in the convoy.
Last week, the federal government said it made an error when it claimed it would be exempting Canadian truck drivers from a vaccine mandate rule when it came to crossing the Canada-U.S. border.
Instead, Ottawa said the regulation would be in place for all truck drivers, no matter their country of origin, to combat the spread of the Omicron wave of COVID-19.
Many in the trucking industry protested the move, saying it would negatively impact shipping because of the additional requirement.
Others took their arguments a step further, joining in a movement to drive to the nation's capital to protest on Parliament Hill in person, a move reminiscent of the action taken by truckers that pushed Ottawa to support the oil and gas industry and the construction of pipelines.
The Freedom Convoy 2022 is expected to stop in Calgary on Sunday night and leave for Regina the following day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | David Johnston resigns as foreign interference special rapporteur
Foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston has resigned, CTV News has confirmed. In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Johnston cited the intense politicization of his appointment and work, as the reason for his resignation.

Here's how some of Canada's wildfires compare in size to cities, lakes
Fires across the country are burning millions of hectares of land but what does that really look like? CTVNews.ca compared the blazes to some cities and lakes in the country showing just how big they have gotten.
Donald Trump described Pentagon plan of attack and shared classified map, indictment says
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon 'plan of attack' and shared a classified map related to a military operation.
Boris Johnson quits as U.K. lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain on Friday by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.
Reactive to proactive: A push for a national campaign on wildfire education in Canada
Despite the alarming facts and figures, experts say Canada is far more reactive than it is proactive when it comes to wildfires and they’re calling for a national campaign on wildfire education to better prepare for the future.
Three people charged in alleged abduction of N.L. teen after Amber Alert issued
Police in Newfoundland and Labrador say three people are facing charges following the alleged abduction of a 14-year-old girl.
Eyes on the weather as residents pack and flee from fierce wildfire in northeast B.C.
Showers are predicted Saturday over the aggressive wildfire threatening Tumbler Ridge, but forecasters say thunderstorms could sweep through the parched region without bringing any rain.
Air Canada walks back compensation denials after thousands delayed due to tech issues
Air Canada says it made a mistake in rejecting some compensation claims from the thousands of travellers affected by delayed flights due to computer malfunctions.
Corrections defends Bernardo's privacy, as it faces calls to detail transfer reason
The Correctional Service of Canada is defending Paul Bernardo's privacy rights after the public safety minister said they should be waived.