Federal Conservative Leader, Erin O'Toole. (File Photo by Mark Brown, Blackburn News)Federal Conservative Leader, Erin O'Toole. (File Photo by Mark Brown, Blackburn News)
Midwestern

Conservative leader to address convoy

The leader of the official opposition says he will meet with truckers in Ottawa.

Conservative leader Erin O'Toole made the statement after meeting with his caucus Thursday.

"The convoy itself is becoming a symbol of the fatigue and the division we're seeing in this country," stated O'Toole. "I will be meeting with truckers to hear their concerns, to talk about the proposals I brought three weeks ago to try to make sure we can keep grocery stores full, keep people working and work together."

On Thursday the 'freedom convoy' rolled through London and other groups are planning to leave Friday morning to join the main group.

That includes one locally leaving the Owen Sound at 9:30 a.m. and smaller groups are also leaving from Huron and Bruce.

O'Toole also addressed the make up of the convoy.

"There are other groups using the plight of truckers to bring division, hatred, and we need to call that out and stamp it out becuase it's also depriving people their ability to have their voice heard," added O'Toole.

But he did not get into specifics.

"Regardless how you feel about the pandemic, whether you're Liberal, Conservative, NDP, let's call for calm. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard in a peaceful protest that is a democratic right. So let's take the temperature down."

As of Thursday, a GoFundMe initiative has raised over $6.5 million to support the truckers in the convoy.

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