Local police are warning drivers about potential traffic impacts in the coming days. A trucker convoy is making it’s way across Canada as part of what’s being called a “freedom convoy” and the OPP says to expect an increase commercial motor vehicles in the region with delays or interruptions on Highways 17 and 417. The OPP says one lane will be affected and is working with organizers to minimize impacts to the travelling public where possible. The Canadian Trucking Alliance says they do not support and strongly disapprove of any protests on public roadways, highways, and bridges. The “freedom convoy” will be rolling through the Ottawa Valley on Friday with stops planned at truck stops in Pembroke and Arnprior. GoFundMe has frozen the nearly $4.5-million in donations raised by the “freedom convoy”, saying they want to know where the money is going. The GoFundMe page states the donations will go toward food, fuel and lodging. The federal government and the Canadian Trucking Alliance are acknowledging the unprecedented challenges facing the sector, which ships the vast majority of food and consumer products, however both continue to agree that vaccination, used in combination with preventative public health measures, is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians, and to protect public health.
