A new Leger poll has found that almost half of vaccinated Canadians agree with the frustrations expressed by the trucker convoy and its supporters that politicians share responsibility for the protest.
The survey was conducted from Feb. 4 to 6, just as protests in support of the original convoy were taking place in cities across Canada. A total of 1,546 adults were included in the online poll.
Canadians have come out in droves to stand alongside truckers and the convoy routes to call for an end to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
Among the poll’s respondents, 30% said they viewed the protests favourably while over 40% said they thought the protesters were selfish.
Additionally, another 44% of those polled said that the prime minister and Canada’s premiers “share the blame for the protest in Ottawa because of their condescending attitude toward Canadians who disagree with vaccine mandates and lockdowns.”
“The convoy has captured and crystallized some of these feelings,” said Leger executive vice-president Andrew Enns. “It is a bit of a message for leadership that this might be a bigger problem.”
Since the convoy first began making its way to Ottawa nearly two weeks ago, its message has spread internationally.
Similar convoys have been planned in the US, Europe and Australia.
Ottawa politicians and the legacy media have attempted to smear the Freedom Convoy and its supporters as racists, extremists and white nationalists.
A CBC News anchor even suggested that the convoy was organized by Russia despite the fact that the bulk of the organizers were from Alberta.
On Tuesday, however, Quebec Liberal MP Joel Lightbound broke rank with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saying that the concerns of the convoy were legitimate and that his party had effectively divided Canadians for political gain.
“I have enough respect for my fellow Canadians not to engage in these easy, absurd labels,” Lightbound said, referring to how the Trudeau government has painted the entire convoy movement as violent and racist.
“I can’t help but notice with regret that both the tone and policies of my government changed drastically on the eve and during the last election campaign.”
The Truckers for Freedom convoy entered its 17th day on Tuesday and had raised over $6 million USD on GiveSendGo.
