(Quebec) Opponents of sanitary measures promise to “ jamming Quebec this weekend by organizing convoys like those that converged on Ottawa. Mayor Bruno Marchand calls for “respect” for the citizens and merchants of his city.
Posted at 11:57 a.m.
Updated at 1:34 p.m.
” We will go jamming Quebec. It’s to put pressure everywhere. This is in no way to divide the people. It’s a question of putting pressure everywhere. There are people who cannot go to Ottawa, ”explained in a video Kevin Bilodeau.
Mr. Bilodeau was one of the organizers of the Festival des Gaulois en Beauce last summer. He explains that he wants to organize a convoy of cars and trucks from Beauce to Quebec this weekend.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRECHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Kevin Bilodeau was one of the organizers of the Festival des Gaulois en Beauce last summer.
The man, who had not responded to an interview request from The Press at the time of publishing these lines, affirms that the trade unionist Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier and a man named Kevin “Big” Grenier are organizing a convoy from the North Shore.
“Quebec, it won’t be long. Two or three days and it will be jammed net”, promises Kevin Bilodeau.
Mayor Marchand asks for “respect”
The mayor of Quebec said he was concerned on Tuesday by the announcement of the demonstration. In Ottawa, the trucks and cars of the convoy paralyzed part of the city. Bruno Marchand believes that such a scenario in his city would be catastrophic for traders.
“It worries me, it worries me a lot. We are in a period where we are trying to create hope to give the people of Quebec events, ”launched the mayor, in reference to the Carnival of Quebec which begins at the end of the week.
“I expect respect. Respect for citizens with noise, the environment, traffic and respect for our merchants. If there were obstacles to accessing businesses, it would be a disaster,” warns the mayor of Quebec.
He recalls that demonstrating is a right and says he understands that “people want to demonstrate near parliament”. But “we are able to claim things without disgusting everyone,” adds the mayor.
The Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ) must organize a press conference by the weekend to explain how it is preparing for the convoys.
The FTQ-Construction will not finance a convoy
The FTQ-Construction will not finance a convoy of protesters against the health measures related to COVID-19, despite a request to this effect sent by the union representative on the North Shore, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier.
Monday evening, the representative of the heavy machinery operators of the FTQ-Construction on the North Shore, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier, had announced his intention to participate in a regional convoy to Quebec to protest against the sanitary measures. He said he wanted to be supported financially by his major union, the FTQ-Construction.
However, in an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday, the general manager of the FTQ-Construction, Éric Boisjoly, indicated that the union would not provide financial support for this operation.
Although he says he supports the right to demonstrate and express his opinions, Mr. Boisjoly called for greater solidarity from all towards the health workers who are exhausted and towards the sick who suffer from load shedding.
The leader of the FTQ-Construction also says he respects the choice of those who refuse to be vaccinated, but stresses that it is not the responsibility of the FTQ-Construction to question the directives of Public Health.
Lia Lévesque, The Canadian Press