Convoys “Outside the CAQ” | More than a thousand demonstrators converge on L’Assomption

More than a thousand people converged on L’Assomption on Saturday to denounce the management of the pandemic by the Legault government. The members of the “Dehors la CAQ” convoys then marched towards the Prime Minister’s office, under the watchful eye of an imposing police surveillance. Everything went smoothly in the end, without any particular outbursts.

Henri Ouellette-Vezina
The Press

“Freedom”, “I remember CHSLD”, “Fini Legault”, could be read on the signs of several demonstrators, who arrived at noon in this municipality of approximately 24,000 inhabitants, in Lanaudière. “When the wicked rule, the people complain! “, chanted a demonstrator in front of the office of the outgoing Prime Minister.

One of the organizers of a convoy from Baie-Comeau, Kevin “Big” Grenier, said earlier in a speech that he was “proud of all of you here”. “We’re really proud of you guys,” he said, calling for people to march “to remember everything we’ve been through” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On several occasions, the demonstrators chanted the name of François Amalega Bitondo, this anti-vaccine leader who had burst into several political press conferences in recent months, and who had run into trouble with the law. Mr. Amalega Bitondo was also on site on Saturday, as were members of the Farfadaa group, opposed to health measures.

“He is the only François whose name should be chanted. He’s done a lot more than all of us here. This gentleman is a machine, because he, this François, is a gentleman, ”continued Kevin “Big” Grenier.

On their way to François Legault’s office, the crowd stopped in front of the CHSLD L’Assomption, on boulevard de l’Ange-Gardien, to lay flowers there, “in tribute to the thousands of people who died in solitude. during the pandemic. Some waved at employees and residents who watched them through the windows of the establishment.

Several others also put one knee on the ground, raising two fingers in the air, in front of the entrance to the CHSLD. The demonstrators finally arrived in front of Mr. Legault’s office shortly after 3 p.m. Other trucks were already waiting for them on the spot, making the sound of horns and slogans be heard. The crowd then gradually dissipated, without causing any outbursts.

A city in congestion

The arrival of convoys caused congestion on Route 341, on the outskirts of the municipality, from the start of the day. Several members of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) were already on site to control traffic, while trucks and cars displaying Quebec flags arrived at the scene of the Paul-Arseneau high school, the meeting place of the rally.

As a security measure, the City had indicated on Friday that no truck or vehicle identified at the demonstration could enter downtown L’Assomption.

From Highway 40, trucks can only enter via Route 341, not Route 343. “We will then redirect them to a parking lot, where speeches can be held,” explained Mayor Sébastien Nadeau to The Press. In the city center, he says, “we still want to keep mobility, and room for our emergency services”.

“We feel that the organizers have a certain leadership over the demonstrators, so that inspires confidence in us, but there can always be individuals with other intentions. You also have to be ready for that, ”explained Mayor Nadeau at the time.

‘No bullying’

François Legault and Éric Duhaime, whom several demonstrators in the convoys openly supported, both called for respectful demonstrations this week. Mr. Duhaime also called on his supporters to vote to make known their opposition to the current government.

Asked about the subject on Saturday, Liberal leader Dominique Anglade delivered a similar message to all voters “who are tired, who want change”. “I invite them to look at the political formation that we represent […] and to vote liberal on October 3,” she said.

“We invite everyone to calm down, to express their opinion calmly, but above all to express their dissatisfaction at the ballot box. In the end, the real demonstration must take place in the ballot box. This is where change can happen,” insisted M.^me England.

The PQ Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, he recalled on Saturday “that we can express ourselves in society, but we want it to take place in peace”. “There is a good way to express yourself. It all depends on how you conduct yourself during the event. […] There is an important opportunity to be heard, October 3 in just two days. Let us take advantage of it precisely to send messages, take positions, vote according to our convictions, ”he said.

With Fanny Lévesque, Charles Lecavalier and Tommy Chouinard, The Press