This Saturday, across Canada, protests are being held in solidarity with Dutch farmers. Among the locations for the demonstrations are Vaughan, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
The vast majority of the demonstrations have been organized by Freedom Fighters Canada; a group associated with the Ottawa trucker convoy. As part of the protest, the farmers will be creating a convoy and “slow rolling” through towns and cities across Canada.
Towns and cities expected to see the farmer convoy in the GTA are Innisfil, Newmarket, Barrie, Orangeville, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Ajax, Milton, Cambridge, Uxbridge, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, and Toronto before a planned gathering at Vaughan Mills.
The demonstrations focus is to bring attention to potential restrictions in the Netherlands that could reduce future harvests and farming income, the organizers say.
The protests stem from a proposed climate policy that aims to cut down to 50 per cent nitrogen and ammonia emissions by 2030, which is projected to force at least 30 per cent of farmers out of business.
"Of course, it has enormous consequences. I understand that, and it is simply terrible,” said Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. "And especially if they are businesses handed down in the family who want to proudly continue.”
The goals to reduce emissions has led to protests across Europe, and in June 40,000 farmers gathered in the Netherlands to protest the government's plans.
Given the potential impact this will have on Canada, the Canadian demonstrators hope to draw attention to the situation on Saturday.
