Truckers and protesters against Canada Covid-19 mandates block a border crossing. Others tried to take meals away from the homeless in Ottawa, shelter says

Some protesters pressured staff at a homeless shelter to give them food, the facility said.

The protests stemmed from the “Freedom Convoy” of truckers that traveled across Canada for several days before arriving in the capital city of Ottawa on Saturday. The drivers oppose a recent vaccine mandate requiring truckers entering Canada to be fully vaccinated or face testing and quarantine requirements.

Trudeau and his family have been quarantining at an undisclosed location, but he had sharp words for those causing turmoil:

“Canadians were shocked and frankly disgusted by the behavior displayed by some people protesting in our nation’s capital,” Trudeau said Monday.

“I want to be very clear: We are not intimidated by those who hurl insults and abuse at small business workers and steal food from the homeless,” he said. “We will not give in to those who fly racist flags. We will not cave to those who engage in vandalism or dishonor the memory of our veterans.”

“Trucks were parked in our ambulance drop off zone for nearly 12 hours until they were removed and towed with the support of Ottawa Police Services,” the facility said. “Our staff and volunteers faced significant barriers to get in to work.”

Truckers and protesters clog a border crossing

In western Canada, trucks and cars have been blocking the Coutts border crossing just north of Sweet Grass, Montana, where Interstate 15 is a major commercial artery for US-Canada supply chains.

The critical route is called Highway 4 on the Canadian side.

“Traffic continues to remain immobilized in both the NB and SB directions. At this time, no motor vehicles are able to access the border for entry / re-entry,” the agency said.

Those who damaged monuments ‘should hang their heads in shame’

Canada’s chief of defense, Gen. Wayne Eyre, said he was “sickened to see protesters dance on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrate the National War Memorial.”

“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the National War Memorial are sacred sites for Canadians,” the CTA said in a statement. “The desecration of these sites was a disgusting act and is a dishonor to those soldiers who have given their lives for our country and those Canadian soldiers who continue to fight for our freedom today.”

The CTA called Terry Fox, the late athlete and cancer research activist, a “national hero.” The alleged defacing of Fox’s monument was another insult to “the memory of one of the greatest Canadians in our history,” it said.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson called the display “completely unacceptable,” and said he’d asked for the sign and flag to be taken down.

“This kind of stunt by protesters does not help their cause,” the mayor said.

Police advised people who work in Ottawa’s downtown core to work remotely Monday.

Not over yet

Despite frigid temperatures, photos have shown supporters joining the convoy of truckers on foot or greeting them with Canadian flags on bridges and highway overpasses.

The agency estimated the financial costs of policing around the demonstrations was more than $ 800,000 a day.

Correction: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong name for the shelter that said it faced harassment of its staff and volunteers. It is Shepherds of Good Hope.