Elections Canada says it will be conducting a probe after it was revealed earlier this month that nearly 205,000 mail-in ballots went uncounted during the 2021 federal election.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perreault said during a Commons House affairs committee that it was “unfortunate” that the record number of ballots was not included in the final election results.
“Obviously any late ballot is unfortunate. These are people who wanted to cast a ballot but we were not able to count them,” said Perrault.
“We’ve never had such a large-scale vote-by-mail operation. We are looking at every angle to see how it can be improved in the future.”
Ahead of the 2021 election, Elections Canada encouraged voters to cast mail-in ballots instead of attending voting stations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are prepared to do an election if it were called tomorrow,” Electoral Officer Perreault had claimed on November 11, 2020.
Despite assurances that the agency could coordinate the vote, it announced that a “significant number” of votes were not counted.
Among those ballots were 114,583 which were never returned by post and 90,000 that were returned late.
“In fact, 90,274 mail-in ballots (local and out-of-riding) were received after the deadlines described in the Canada Elections Act (either by close of polls locally, or 6 PM ET for international/national mail-in ballots returned to Ottawa),” Elections Canada told True North.
“114,583 ballot kits were either never returned to us, or they were cancelled (for example, electors who returned their ballot kit unused because they voted in person instead). Those two numbers represent different things.”
According to Perrault, the department is confident that they will be able to deliver a report on what exactly went wrong.
“The separation within the 114,000 between those who simply chose not to vote and those who chose to vote by another means is something we need to look into. To do that we have to pry open all of the bags coming back from all the parts of the country,” said Perrault.
“That is a long process. I am confident we will be able to report on that.”
On Day 28 of the Truckers for Freedom Convoy, police shot a journalist with a gas canister, protesters on Wellington Street were driven back and demonstrators remained defiant in cities across the country.
Police resumed aggressively herding protesters off of Wellington Street today. Tensions remained extremely high as the line of officers advanced in front of the protesters at the foot of Canada’s Parliament Buildings.
Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie was live-streaming the moment a police officer shot her in the leg with a gas canister from point-blank range. She was also struck repeatedly with a police baton.
WATCH: Shocking scenes as Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie is tear gassed by police just for doing her job. pic.twitter.com/HcQHPwI0NX
Quebec police who arrived on the scene to back up the Ottawa officers appeared to have removed their name tags and badge numbers from their uniforms.
Justin Trudeau’s SQ (Quebec provincial police service) officers removed their identifying names and badge numbers from their uniforms in Ottawa. pic.twitter.com/L7gKxzD84Q
God bless our brave brothers & sisters ❤️❤️❤️❤️🇨🇦🇺🇸 Ottawa protesters kneel in prayer as lines of riot units face off with them.🙏 pic.twitter.com/mPytb5Bywe
Freedom Convoy co-organizer Tom Marazzo held a press conference on Saturday where he called for protesters to make a peaceful withdrawal from Ottawa.
“There isn’t anything to be gained by being brutalized by police,” Marazzo said.
He went on to stress that this was not a defeat and that the withdrawal is merely one battle in a larger war.
Marazzo criticized the shocking abuse of power displayed by provincial and federal law enforcement, saying there was no violence until the police arrived.
“Never in my life would I believe anyone if they told me that our prime minister would refuse dialogue, and choose violence against peaceful protesters,” he said.
Marazzo announced that the truckers would be initiating a Charter challenge against vaccine mandates and that legal counsel for those arrested and/or injured by police was being arranged.
Appearing in court on a ‘counselling to commit mischief’ charge today, Lich learned that she will be forced to stay in jail until Tuesday while a judge considers whether or not to grant bail.
Ottawa Police announced they were live-tweeting events today in an attempt to “combat misinformation” coming out of media reports.
Claiming they had not used tear gas, the police specified that the gas they had deployed against a journalist was a “chemical irritant” used against protesters who were “assaulting” officers.
“Protesters continue to be aggressive and assaultive on officers. They are refusing to comply with the orders to move. You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behavior and for officer safety,” Ottawa Police tweeted.
Protesters continue to be aggressive and assaultive on officers. They are refusing to comply with the orders to move. You will have seen officers use a chemical irritant in an effort to stop the assaultive behavior and for officer safety.
Ottawa Police also posted graphics with the number of arrests made throughout the day. By the afternoon, they claimed 47 arrests and that they had cleared the protesters from Wellington and O’Connor.
Meanwhile, interim Ottawa Police chief Steve Bell said in a press conference that anyone involved in the protests could expect to be charged after investigations that could take months.
Ottawa Police Chief: "If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges." pic.twitter.com/Sih0YUWG5o
“If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges,” Bell said.
Despite these threats and heavy police presence, protesters remained defiant.
In Ottawa, large crowds kept dancing.
Live entertainment and dancing in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City. Protestors in support of #FreedomConvoy2022 have come out in droves after a day of police crackdowns in Ottawa.
In cities across Canada, demonstrators gathered again to continue their protest against the lengthening government overreach and ongoing COVID restrictions.
Here was a crowd in Toronto singing O Canada.
BREAKING: Toronto sings O Canada in solidarity in fellow Canadians in Ottawa. Followed by cheers of Freedom and Liberté 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/CW5ZZiA2h3
Live entertainment and dancing in front of the National Assembly in Quebec City. Protestors in support of #FreedomConvoy2022 have come out in droves after a day of police crackdowns in Ottawa.
The House of Commons resumed debate over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s implementation of the Emergencies Act today after the Liberal government cancelled the session on Friday.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis spoke out against the unprecedented measure, announcing she intends to vote on Monday to defeat it.
Today I debated the Emergencies Act in the House. Invoking it, without exhausting existing legal options, threatens to bring our democracy into disrepute. We cannot be ruled by emergency decree, nor can we abide the misuse of executive power to suppress those with opposing views. pic.twitter.com/JM8MiyxPXX
One of the remaining organizers of the Freedom Convoy who hasn’t been arrested is calling on protesters to peacefully and immediately withdraw from Ottawa to avoid the heavy-handed police response.
Speaking at a press conference at the Lord Elgin hotel Saturday afternoon, Tom Marazzo said it was time for demonstrators to leave to avoid further harm.
“There isn’t anything to be gained by being brutalized by police,” Marazzo said.
Marazzo’s announcement comes after police used aggressive tactics – including riot gear, horses and “chemical irritants” – on Friday and Saturday to disperse peaceful protesters who are demanding an end to the country’s COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
Convoy organizer Tom Marazzo said earlier he was asking for people to withdraw, but noted it was everyone‘s individual choice to make. (“We’re not the government,” he said.)
Marazzo went on to say that it was a dark day in Canadian history.
“Never in my life would I believe anyone if they told me that our prime minister would refuse dialogue, and choose violence against peaceful protesters,” he said.
He mentioned how the convoy protests were always peaceful, adding, “the violence came to us when the police arrived.”
Marazzo said the truckers will initiate a Charter challenge to try to strike down vaccine mandates. He added that legal counsel for those who have been injured and/or arrested by police is also being organized.
While Marazzo said he isn’t aware of any warrants for his arrest, he confirmed that his bank account has been frozen and his credit cards cancelled. He added that his spouse’s credit score dropped 109 points yesterday, despite the fact that she is not even in Ottawa.
WATCH: Shocking scenes as Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie is tear gassed by police just for doing her job. pic.twitter.com/HcQHPwI0NX
True North’s Andrew Lawton was present at the press conference and asked whether there had been discussions with the OPP granting amnesty to protesters choosing to leave Ottawa.
Marazzo responded that he had been told police are doing a “catch and release” operation where people are removed from Ottawa’s downtown core and then let go.
When asked about children being present at downtown protests near the police lines, Marazzo said that he would personally not bring his children into this type of situation.
He added, however, that parents should be making those decisions for themselves.
Kids can be seen in the crowd pushing back against police near the Westin hotel in Ottawa. Orders under the Emergencies Act prohibit bringing children to the convoy protest. #FreedomConvoy2022pic.twitter.com/F02ekYW0Em
True North’s Andrew Lawton also asked Marazzo if he could confirm whether convoy organizers are now in control of the money raised via the GiveSendGo fundraiser. Marazzo said he could not speak to that issue.
Things got tense when another journalist followed up by asking if people in Ottawa would be compensated for alleged “property damages.” Marazzo brushed off the question, after which some of the journalists in attendance began arguing with each other.
Although the Freedom Convoy demonstrations have been largely peaceful, they have disrupted some downtown Ottawa residents and businesses. These inconveniences led to organizers working out a deal last Sunday with mayor Jim Watson to move the trucks out of residential areas and onto Wellington Street. The deal with the city was, however, called off by the OPP when the Trudeau Government invoked the Emergencies Act.
Marazzo said that the withdrawal of the convoy and its organizers is not a white flag of surrender. He said one of the wins for them is that there were still many Canadians out in the streets to support the cause despite violence from the police.
Marazzo also said that the most meaningful thing that people can do is learn and understand the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, adding “start exercising your charter rights; do it today.”
Since beginning in late January, the Freedom Convoy has been supported by Canadians across the country and received international attention.
Even before the first trucks arrived in Ottawa, however, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had dismissed them as a “fringe minority” holding “unacceptable views.” He refused to meet with the truckers during their time in Ottawa, opting instead to remove them using aggressive police tactics.
A group of 23 prominent Israeli doctors and scientists has written a letter chastising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for equating demonstrators participating in the Freedom Convoy to Nazis.
“The important fight against antisemitism should not be weaponized and directed at a legitimate civil protest which aims at restoring fundamental freedoms, to what used to be, not long ago, one of the freest countries in the world,” said the group in a letter on Friday.
Leading Israeli physicians and scientists in an open letter to @JustinTrudeau 🇨🇦:
“You adopted a smear campaign portraying protesters as 'Nazi sympathizers', 'racist' and 'antisemitic'. Freedom Convoy is a legitimate civil protest which aims at restoring fundamental liberties.” pic.twitter.com/kSjnbd86SV
The group said that in recent weeks, they have been following news about the Freedom Convoy. They tell Trudeau that rather than pursue constructive dialogue, he has engaged in “a smear-by-association campaign, portraying the protestors as ‘Nazi sympathizers,’ ‘racist’ and ‘anti-Semitic’.”
The group’s letter added that many of the signatories are second or third-generation Holocaust survivors and that they are “deeply concerned by (Trudeau’s) attempt to stigmatize the Freedom Convoy 2022 protestors as Nazi ideology supporters.”
On Wednesday during Question Period in the House of Commons, Trudeau had answered a question by Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman by accusing her party of standing “with people who wave swastikas.”
Lantsman is Jewish and a descendant of Holocaust survivors.
PM Trudeau tells CPC MP @MelissaLantsman that she stands with "people who wave swastikas."
“Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas,” said Trudeau. “We will choose to stand with Canadians.”
He did not apologize to Lantsman, even when pressed by her and other Conservatives.
The Freedom Convoy entered its 28th day on Saturday, with Ottawa police continuing a massive operation it began on Friday to clear downtown Ottawa of the Freedom Convoy protests.
A notice distributed to demonstrators prior to the operation warned them to “leave the area now.”
“Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in the blocking (of) streets, are committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested,” read the police notice. “You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges.”
Meanwhile, debate had resumed in the House of Commons over Trudeau’s implementation of the Emergencies Act, with a vote expected on the measure on Monday.
True North is on the ground covering this developing story.
Even as heavily armed police cracked down on peaceful protesters in Ottawa, Global Affairs Canada sent out a notice criticizing Cuba’s harsh sentencing of demonstrators from the 2021 Cuban protests.
“Canada strongly advocates for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly free from intimidation,” said Global Affairs in a tweet on Friday. “We stand with the people of Cuba in their aspiration for #democracy.”
Canada condemns #Cuba’s harsh sentencing following the July 2021 protests. 🇨🇦 strongly advocates for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly free from intimidation. We stand with the people of 🇨🇺 in their aspiration for #democracy.
Twitter users were quick to criticize the department for supporting protests in Cuba while police were forcefully dismantling the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.
Timcast IRL producer Luke Rudkowski mocked the government department.
“Look at the horrible things happening in Cuba RIGHT NOW,” said Rudkowski. “Sorry, that’s in Canada!”
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis said that she was confused about the tweet.
“Given the use of the Emergencies Act on peaceful protestors in Ottawa, I must ask if this is a satirical account,” said Lewis.
Canada is concerned about recent developments in #Guatemala, where legal action has been initiated against independent judges, lawyers & anti-corruption prosecutors. Rule of law, judicial independence & due process underpin strong democracies and must be respected and protected.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion put out a similar tweet that was also criticized by Twitter users.
“Canada is concerned about recent developments in #Guatemala, where legal action has been initiated against independent judges, lawyers & anti-corruption prosecutors,” said the government office. “Rule of law, judicial independence & due process underpin strong democracies and must be respected and protected.”
WATCH: Shocking scenes as Rebel News journalist Alexa Lavoie is tear gassed by police just for doing her job. pic.twitter.com/HcQHPwI0NX
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) started to move in on clearing the Freedom Convoy from downtown Ottawa on Friday and continued its operations on Saturday.
A notice distributed to protesters prior to the police operation warned them to “leave the area now.”
“Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in the blocking (of) streets, are committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested,” said the OPS. “You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges.”
Meanwhile, debate had resumed in the House of Commons over Trudeau’s implementation of the Emergencies Act, with a vote expected on the measure on Monday.
True North is on the ground covering this developing story.
The Freedom Convoy entered its 28th day on Saturday.
Police have moved in on freedom convoy protesters in Ottawa. Many have already been arrested and there were cases of protesters being beaten and trampled.
True North’s Andrew Lawton is reporting live on the scene.
On day 27 of the Truckers For Freedom Convoy, police trampled and beat peaceful protesters, a True North journalist was pepper-sprayed and the world watched on in disgust.
The day began with the Trudeau government cancelling debate over the Emergencies Act in the House due to police action on adjacent streets around Parliament Hill.
Shocking scenes ensued.
Riot police had been flown in from all corners of Ontario to shut down the protest. They were armed with heavy firepower, riot gear, pepper spray, tear gas and batons.
Police deployed riot horses and pepper spray, vehicles’ windows were smashed, and over 100 arrests were made.
In what was likely the most horrifying scene of the day, police on horseback charged the crowd and trampled an elderly First Nations woman who had pleaded that the protest was peaceful.
Her condition in hospital is unknown at this time.
Watch the shocking abuse of power enabled by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s implementation of the Emergencies Act.
Ottawa Police Horses Trample Protestors Increasing Tensions Between Protestors and Police
Ottawa Police tweeted that protesters were provoking officers on the scene.
Legacy media reported that the people who were trampled by riot horses had thrown a bike at the police.
A review of the evidence shows an elderly woman with her mobility walker.
Protesters are assaulting officers, have attempted to remove officer’s weapons. All means of de-escalation have been used to move forward in our goal of returning Ottawa to it’s normalcy. #ottawa#ottnews
This Global News report said that “a bicycle was thrown at the feet of one of the horses in an attempt to injure it, and one person was arrested for intentionally harming a police service animal.”
Elsewhere, police were seen beating a protester with what appeared to be the stock of his rifle.
Protesters: if you're being arrested, don't resist. Almost every instance of police brutality begins with someone resisting arrest.
Police: do NOT beat protesters with the stock of your gun for goodness sake. Get that cop's badge number and report him. https://t.co/eRTYpCiR7f
Condemnation of police action poured in from observers around the globe.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson slammed Trudeau in a scathing segment on his evening show.
“If it looks like something out of Belarus, it is. But it’s happening in a capital right here in North America,” Carlson said. “They kneed several demonstrators in the head…horses began trampling Canadians as they peacefully protested.”
“This kind of violence sponsored by Justin Trudeau continued all day…here’s the definition of tyranny. It’s oppressing your citizenry, ignoring the most basic standards of human rights and then preventing the worst of the world from seeing what you’re doing.”
People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier labeled Justin Trudeau’s Canada “a banana republic.”
“There is no emergency in Canada,” declared Bernier. “No war. No insurrection. No terrorist attack that justified invoking this law. It is outright illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
Interim Conservative Party leader Candice Bergen wrote on Twitter that she was “disturbed and saddened” by what she was seeing in Ottawa.
I'm disturbed & saddened by what we are seeing today in Ottawa. This situation was created by the PM & his desire to divide Canadians. It’s time for MPs to return to the House tomorrow to stop the overreach by this government & restore unity, wholeness & hope back to our nation.
Despite the shocking scenes that unfolded during the day, protesters in Ottawa resiliently celebrated another night on Wellington Street by lighting fireworks and dancing.
Protesters stand their ground in Ottawa, celebrating 21 days of protests with fireworks in the skies.
Friends, I know it’s late but let’s check-in on Ottawa’s nightlife
If you thought a 100+ arrests and tons of trucks no longer holding the line would dampen the spirits of party goers in Ottawa you’d be wrong. At Ottawa’s newest club, Studio Slater, they’ve got a DJ spinning MJ! pic.twitter.com/uYesqwWyjG
Some Ottawa community centres are now requiring children as young as five to show proof of double vaccination to enrol in its programs, while one is requiring adults to have had their third shots.
The Glebe and Ottawa South community centres, as well as the Dovercourt Recreation centre, are all requiring that children born in 2016 or earlier show proof of double vaccination in order to participate in programs.
These programs include after school clubs, breakfast clubs, art and dance classes, as well as summer and March break camps.
“When you come to your first program session, you will be asked to show proof of double vaccination for your child aged 5 to 17 and a corresponding piece of government-issued ID showing the name of the child being registered,” reads the website of the Old Ottawa South Community Association.
In addition to requiring young kids to be vaccinated, the Ottawa South Community Centre is mandating the booster shot for any adult wishing to participate in programs effective Mar 1.
There appears to be no mention of medical or religious exemptions on the websites of the Ottawa South or Glebe community centre websites.
The Dovercourt website does state that only medical exemptions will be considered, although those who manage to obtain such an exemption would have to undergo bi-weekly testing at their own expense.
True North reached out to the three community centres to ask why they had implemented these policies given that the province is not mandating the vaccine for young children.
“The health and safety of our children, our clients, our staff and everyone’s family continue to be our top priority,” said the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG), which runs the Glebe Community Centre. “We are a small organization with limited staff resources and are unfortunately not well equipped to handle an outbreak or a sudden staff shortage.”
GNAG also told True North, “should the situation of this pandemic change, we will adjust our policy in a manner that is responsive and reasonable.”
While these Canadian community centres are requiring that parents share their children’s medical information to prove that they’ve been vaccinated, some countries have altered course on children’s vaccinations.
The Swedish health agency has even recommended against vaccinating children aged five-to-11, claiming that the risks outweigh the benefits.
“With the knowledge we have today, with a low risk for serious disease for kids, we don’t see any clear benefit with vaccinating them,” said Swedish health official Britta Bjorkholm.
In Denmark, pediatricians have questioned vaccinating young children and have called on the government to review whether it should continue recommending that parents vaccinate their five-to-11-year-olds.
While every province in Canada had implemented a vaccine passport during the pandemic, none opted to expand those mandates to cover young children, with some premiers stressing the importance of parental choice.
“I’m going to leave that up to the parent when it comes to five-to-11-year-olds. Do we want to get them vaccinated? Yes. But there are some parents that are vaccinated, they are a little hesitant at the age of five or six. I get it,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in October.
Ford announced this week that provincial proof of vaccination requirements would be dropped on Mar 1.
These community centres will still be allowed to require proof of vaccination, however.
Liberal immigration minister Sean Fraser has introduced the government’s 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan, announcing that Canada will increase immigration to 1.14% of the Canadian population by 2024, or approximately 451,000 people.
In comparison, Canada accepted more than 405,000 new permanent residents in 2021, the most in a single year in Canadian history.
The ministry said that it would develop a long-term focus on economic growth, with about 60% of admissions in the economic class.
“We are focused on economic recovery, and immigration is the key to getting there,” said Fraser in a press release on Monday. “Setting bold new immigration targets, as outlined in the 2022-2024 Levels Plan, will further help bring the immeasurable contribution of immigrants to our communities and across all sectors of the economy.”
Statistics Canada reported that unfilled jobs surpassed one million in November. This number represents 6% of all jobs, a vacancy rate that is up from as low as 3% in December 2020.
Immigration accounts for close to 100% of labour force growth, according to the press release. It went on to say that with 5 million Canadians set to retire by the end of this decade, the worker to retiree ratio would drop to 3:1.
About 39% of Canadians said that Canada’s current immigration levels are too high, according to a poll done by the Angus Reid Institute last June.
The poll suggested 22% of Canadians believe the number of people the Liberals wanted to immigrate to Canada was “far too many” and that the “number should be way lower.” An additional 17% called the target “too many.”
In addition, 34% of respondents said that immigration targets were “about right.” About 13% of them wanted to raise levels, 8% claimed the targets were “too few” and 5% responded that “the number should be way higher.”
A soldier who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for 28 years is marching from Vancouver to Ottawa in solidarity with the Freedom Convoy and working Canadians against overbearing government COVID policies.
“About a week and a half ago, I was in complete and utter despair not knowing what I can do or how I can make a difference,” James Topp told True North. “Then there was finally a group of people banding together to do something, and it inspired me in a way I’ve never felt before.”
“Then I came up with this idea. I’m going to walk across the country. In protest.”
“Because the alternative was self-destruction. Honestly.”
Topp said he will be at the Terry Fox statue at BC Place on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 6am and will depart at 715. He said he plans to march 40km that day and to complete the 4395km journey in four months, arriving at the National War Memorial in Ottawa no later than June 20.
His announcements and preparation videos can be found on his website, Canadamarches.ca. The site also includes his “Open Letter to Higher,” where he spells out the beliefs and positions that have led him to his march.
“If I am to be punished for what I have said and done then I accept that,” the letter reads. “While I lament what has happened to this country and the direction that our society is going, as it becomes enslaved by the technology that has the potential to uplift us, I go to the gulag with the ability to hold my head up and look at myself in the mirror. I will rest easy in prison or leave this earth with peace of mind.”
Speaking with True North on Friday as Ottawa police moved in on the Freedom Convoy, Topp said that crackdowns on peaceful protests have only strengthened his resolve.
“I am marching into this for real, and I am not afraid anymore,” he said.
Topp said that like many working Canadians, he has been hit hard by government mandates during the pandemic and that the last two years have been difficult. As a current member of the Canadian Army Reserve as well as a civilian worker with the RCMP, he says he is also twice out of a job.
Both the CAF and the RCMP now require their members to be fully vaccinated against COVID or risk being terminated.
“This is a government policy that has affected me negatively,” he said, adding he is under orders not to discuss certain aspects of his situation, including his military career. “I was in utter despair. I said everything in (my) video.”
Topp first announced his intention to walk to Ottawa on Feb. 12, when he made the decision to appear in full uniform at the Pacific Border Crossing protest in Surrey. For that, he said, he is currently facing an investigation by the CAF and severe career consequences.
“Anybody can stand there and beak off,” he told True North. “But the uniform was the only mechanism I had available to me with the strength of the convictions I now have to get the message out there to people to start doing something.”
“I took my uniform, got in my car, drove down to Surrey – the level of sheer terror I experienced was right up there with jumping out of an airplane.”
“I walked out with that uniform on into that protest specifically looking for someone from the press to talk to.”
Topp appeared in a number of videos over the weekend, declaring his intention to march to Ottawa and his desire to see everyone come together to oppose what has been happening in Canada. He said the support he received has been overwhelming.
“There are 73-year-old veterans who have reached out to me on that canadamarches.ca website, and they want to come with me,” he said. “I can’t even express what that means in words.”
As a lifelong soldier, Topp said he sees himself as a guardian and that he hopes to speak to politicians in Ottawa about what they are doing to the country he has served and working Canadians have built.
“So if we are in a house, and I am the guardian, and inside this house now, we have a spoiled child – a spoiled, entitled child,” he said. “And I’m not just talking about one person. I’m talking about a number of people running around inside the house, knocking stuff over, breaking windows, writing on the walls with crayon, and we as guardians are just watching this with our hands in our pockets.”
“And now, the child has gotten ahold of a box of matches,” he said. “As the guardians, I feel we have to sit that child down and have a talk about who built that house.”
Topp stated that his march was peaceful and that he wants to raise awareness.
When asked how people can help him, Topp insisted he wanted no money. Any donations, he said, could go to Woundedwarriors.ca.
“Working people have given me all of this,” he said, opening his arms. “They’ve built everything I have. I can’t ask them for any more.”
Topp said that if people wanted to give him a place to stay as he’s passing through town, though, he would appreciate it. He also said he could use some help with the technical side of things, like coming up with a live map of his progress.
Topp said that what was originally going to be a one-man journey has grown considerably, but he’s still a little unsure about who will actually be in Vancouver on Sunday when he sets out.
As for the march itself, he says he intends to average 20-40 km a day, carrying everything he needs on his back.
“I’ve got survival skills – I’ve been in the jungle, the arctic, the desert, the forest – I have full confidence in my abilities,” he said. “That part’s easy.”
