After weeks of near-total silence, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole is finally throwing his support behind truckers and other Canadians fighting for their rights and freedoms. Better late than never.
“After two years, Canadians are tired,” O’Toole said during a press conference. “They’re tired because they followed the rules. We’ve worked from home; our kids have not been in school; we’ve shifted our life.
“Most Canadians got the jab. We’ve all been trying to follow the rules, and this year started out just like last year: with lockdowns, with curfews, with division; and that’s only getting worse.”
“And the thousands coming here in the next few days,” O’Toole continues, finally acknowledging the truckers fighting against Trudeau’s mandates when O’Toole did not, “the trucker convoy is a symbol of the fatigue in our country right now.”
“The very fact that the Prime Minister won’t listen or hear these voices shows the degree of division that exists in our country.”
O’Toole’s comments come days after several MPs in the Party, such as Leslyn Lewis and Pierre Poilievre, took the initiative and threw their full support behind the peaceful protest, leaving many wondering where the supposed leader of the Conservatives is on the biggest movement in recent Canadian history.
Here's what is not being noticed about this clip: the MP right ahead of @PierrePoilievre is O'Toole's lieutenant. Front bencher. Tucks his head and ignores the very simple question. Pierre, who represents the Official Opposition Opposition, takes the question and hits a home run. https://t.co/8lPDmZuQIf
— Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) January 27, 2022
I’m proud of the Truckers. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. The liberal mandates are unscientific, vindictive, mean-spirited and promote segregation. The people have a moral obligation to oppose unjust laws and mandates. https://t.co/1i4QQZUToO
— Dr. Leslyn Lewis (@LeslynLewis) January 25, 2022
Indeed, only three days ago, O’Toole claimed it wasn’t his place to support or condemn protesters, showing a total lack of character and leadership.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole refuses to say if he supports the #TruckersForFreedom convoy. pic.twitter.com/nMzptuPL8T
— True North (@TrueNorthCentre) January 24, 2022
“Conservatives will always stand up and fight for anyone who wants to work hard and provide for their family. That is why we’ve always had issues with mandates,” O’Toole now says, even though he was silent for two years while Premier after Premier introduced mandate after mandate.
“We don’t believe anyone should lose their house, their family, and their livelihood because of this pandemic.”
O’Toole continues, saying that everyone should stand up for working people and criticizing Trudeau for not doing so.
He then says that he plans on meeting with truckers on Friday (one day before the convoy is set to arrive in Ottawa) to hear their concerns, adding that Canadians should have compassion for the unvaccinated even if they disagree with their choice.
Unfortunately, O’Toole did not denounce vaccine passports or mask mandates. But it’s a start.
