An earthquake is going on – politically, socially, even spiritually, in great, prosperous, and scenic nation of Canada. The Freedom (Truck) Convoy, which seeks the abolition of nation-wide vaccine mandates for truckers – and the strong reaction from the Trudeau government – has revealed a geological fault line in Canadian society.

This story is on-going and worldwide. Though the convoy has been dispersed in Ottawa by the police, the question remains. Could this crisis spotlight the prospect of ‘two Canadas?’

During the uncertain and troubled early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada recognised and applauded a certain group of ‘essential workers.’ While the rest of Canada was at home in lockdown, these men were out on the road delivering food and supplies nationwide.

One man tweeted on 31 March 2020 – when there were no vaccines – ‘“While many of us are working from home, there are others who aren’t able to do that–like the truck drivers who are working day and night to make sure our shelves are stocked. So, when you can, please #ThankATrucker for everything they’re doing and help them however you can.” The author of the tweet? Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

That was nearly two years before the Freedom Convoy rolled into Ottawa. How things have changed!

While other Anglosphere countries like Australia and New Zealand have enacted draconian Covid restrictions, it is arguable that during the last two years Canada has revealed an alarming move towards authoritarianism. During this time pastors have been arrested and jailed and churches burned. The ‘temporary’ suspension of freedoms seems to have become indefinite. It is clearly a departure from democratic norms. And that’s before Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Valentine’s Day 2022.

With the pressure of the pandemic, the trend of two-Canadas, that has been brewing for years, is now bubbling to the surface. After all, you won’t know the colour of the toothpaste until you squeeze the tube!

The Canadian ‘Freedom Convoy’ was a spontaneous, grassroots, ‘made in Canada’ movement. It has been called a ‘human rights protest’ or ‘demonstration.’ Starting from Vancouver, British Columbia in the west, over 50,000 truckers drove a convoy that was seventy kilometres (forty-three miles) long towards the national capital of Ottawa, honking their horns on the way. Their demand: remove the vaccine mandate on truckers, instituted on 15 January 2022. ‘Unvaccinated Canadian truckers,’ who travel repeatedly to the USA, would be forced to quarantine thus incurring a loss of income. Since most of the truckers are vaccinated, this was not an ‘anti-vaccine’ protest – it was an ‘anti-mandate’ protest. The truckers have promised to uphold ‘non-violence’ in their actions and all they want is ‘freedom.’ Remove the mandates and they’ll go home.

Upon their arrival in Ottawa, they parked their rigs and set up camp. With food stalls and jumping castles for the children, it is more like a street party than a normal protest. Admittedly, they could be parking illegally.

However, there’s more: some truckers have blockaded several US-Canada border crossings, including the all-important Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor Ontario, where twenty-five percent of all cross-border trade occurs (the bridge has since been cleared). This could be considered a form of civil disobedience.  

What has been the results of the Freedom Convoy so far?

The Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole was voted out of leadership by his own caucus. O’Toole is a progressive though he was head of the Conservative Party;
Canadian provinces like Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, are ending some or much of their Covid-restrictions and mandates;
Members of Prime Minister Trudeau’s own Liberal Party are publicly breaking rank with him.
The global auto industry out of Detroit was closed, temporarily, because of the blockade.
It has inspired truck convoys in other places like Australia, Israel, in Europe, and the United States.

The convoy has brought into clearer focus the fact that there are ‘two Canadas.’ The first is called ‘Progressive Canada.’ Simply stated, progressivism, which has been around over a century, says ‘big government will meet all your needs and keep you safe’ in exchange for higher taxes and total compliance. The Trudeau government is in this category.

Today’s version of progressivism is Infused with secular humanism and cultural Marxism, which means they seek to redefine key things like nationhood, citizenship, sex, gender, marriage, family and even theology.
Modern progressivism can also be very divisive, pitting whites against blacks, women against men, the ‘masked’ against the ‘unmasked,’ and now the ‘vaxxed’ against the ‘unvaxxed.’ Political power becomes intoxicating and there’s nothing like a public emergency – war or a pandemic – to gain it.

If you give politicians more power in an emergency, they will create more emergencies to get more power — Source Unknown

Progressivism is demonstrating increased coercion and authoritarianism. Pierre Poilievre, a Conservative Party Parliamentarian says, ‘governments are big and bossy.’ When that happens, spending is high, taxes are high, and freedoms decrease. The severe Covid measure – done for our good, of course – were exceptionally punitive against those who did not toe the line.

There is also the second Canada, or ‘Populist Canada.’ These are the native Anglo-Canadians plus the migrants who love being Canadian. They believe in values of the Anglosphere (human rights, freedoms, and equal protection of the law), as well as traditions, customs, family, nation-state patriotism, and faith. Many are working class people. The Freedom Convoy is in this category.

The convoy standoff with the Trudeau government could peacefully end in ten minutes. Lift the mandates, as some of the Canadian provinces are already doing, and every one can go home.

What has been the response of the Trudeau government to the Freedom Convoy? Derision and condemnation. The prime minister, who once said #ThankATrucker, resorted to denigration and name calling – referring to ‘these people’ are misogynist, racists, and white supremacists. He refused to talk with them, especially because they are a ‘small fringe minority’ who ‘hold unacceptable views.’ Then came the ‘them’ vs. ‘us’ talk, as if the convoy were not really Canadians at all. Following this came the threats. After being encouraged by Joe Biden to ‘use federal authority,’ the prime minister invoked the never-before used 1988 Emergencies Act, which is intended for war, civil strife and insurrection. Truckers can be arrested, rigs confiscated, bank accounts frozen. Violators can be fined CAD 5,000, face five years in prison, or both. Even American donors to the convoy are being threatened. Convoy leaders made a conscious decision to withdraw from the capital as a police crackdown descended on the protestors.

While not all progressives would go this far or even condone such autocratic action, the history of progressivism, since the days of Woodrow Wilson a century ago, show that such strong-armed tactics are possible and predictable. David Horowitz famously said: “Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out.”

Remember that Canada has a Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1981). It starts out with the words: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognise the supremacy of God and the rule of Law.”

Clause Two: Fundamental Freedoms: Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association. Notice how much the word ‘freedom’ is used?

Who honours the Charter of Rights more: Progressive Canada or Populist Canada? You be the judge.

What should the two Canadas do to avoid the earthquake? The government should engage in serious negotiations with the truckers, as fellow Canadians, and seek to find common ground. As citizens of Canada, the truckers have every right to conduct peaceful and lawful protests. Their voices heard need to be heard. The Charter of Rights should be upheld.

At the same time, the government is responsible for border crossings. If the truckers blockade these international gates, how can they gain their own freedom while denying freedom of others who want to cross? Lifting blockades is a good start to negotiations.

However, there is no circumstance – or excuse – regarding this convoy that precludes face-to-face talks. Diplomacy, statesmanship, and maturity can do wonders in resolving conflict.

In the absence of negotiation and resolution, Progressive Canada and Populist Canada will be interlocked like tectonic plates and the pressure is bound to increase. If it gets to the point of snapping, then comes the earthquake. As responsible ‘great commission’ Christians, we need to ‘understand the times’ (1 Chronicles 12:32), so we can know how to intelligently pray for Canada, its people, and government. Pray that it will uphold the Charter of Rights. Also, pray that God’s upcoming global revival grants Canada a key role to play.

When all this happens, the two Canadas can be ‘one’ again.