The first trucks in a national convoy that was organized to protest the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 vaccine mandates are due to arrive in the Ottawa area today.

The convoy of big rigs has been gaining participants and supporters as it rolls across the country from all directions for a weekend rally in the capital.

In Toronto Thursday crowds of people lined part of the route, waving Canadian flags and holding up signs denouncing the vaccine mandate as they cheered the truckers on.

Some with extreme, far-right views have latched onto the protest, which has been condemned by the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

Many truckers have posted on social media they are continuing to do their jobs and that the convoy doesnB次元官网网址檛 speak for them.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has warned people not to dismiss the protesters as simple freedom fighters, saying nobody wants to see the Parliament Hill demonstration descend into anti-government violence.

Conservative Leader Erin OB次元官网网址橳oole said Thursday that he would meet with some of the truckers, adding that he and his MPB次元官网网址檚 have long stood against the vaccine mandate they now face. But he also denounced those involved in the convoy who are espousing racist and extremist ideas.

Meanwhile, police in Ottawa stressed they would not tolerate any criminal behaviour as they made plans to deal with thousands of demonstrators at SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 so called B次元官网网址渇reedom rally.B次元官网网址�

EditorB次元官网网址檚 Note: This story has been updated to reflect that the convoy and protests are not solely about the cross-border vaccine mandate for truck drivers, but for all COVID-19 mandates nationally.