Truckers in Quebec believe they have other battles to fight, in particular to improve their working conditions, rather than demonstrating against the health measures linked to COVID-19.
• Read also: Convoy of truckers: Ottawa police say they will need help
• Read also: Convoy of truckers: Quebec could be besieged
This was explained by Benoit Therrien, founder of Truck Stop Quebec, in an interview with Quebec Morning Thursday, commenting on the demonstration of truckers in Ottawa, but also the one that is preparing in Quebec.
“We have many other things we would like to change! Insurance, fuel rates, educate some companies to raise rates. We have many other fish to fry than identifying with popular causes,” he said.
He considers that the movement in which truckers are involved is first and foremost a grassroots movement, and that the majority of truckers agree with him.
“There is an acute disgust in the population and the slightest movement stirs up a lot of emotions in some people to the point of saying “we are going to demonstrate, we no longer want health rules, no more masks. We don’t want anything anymore,” he observed.
hate messages
He says he has received as many messages of hate as messages of support from his compatriots.
“You know, we have so much work from that time, to demonstrate is to take money from ourselves in our community!”
He considers that several strong heads behind the demonstrations use the image of truckers “for their purposes”.
“I think our image eats a slap every time! […] I don’t think all truckers agree with that idea. The trucking industry will not join these protests either,” he said.
The other convoy of truckers preparing to demonstrate in Quebec, headed by trade unionist Rambo Gauthier, did not seem to have brought together many trucks on Thursday morning.