Hundreds gathered outside Drew Barnes office to show support for the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Hatters rally in support of Ottawa freedom convoy

Jan 29, 2022 | 6:44 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– As thousands of truckers and other protesters made their way to Parliament Hill to protest vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions, crowds of people gathered outside MLA Drew Barnes office to show their support.

” The truckers got organized by a local lady here in order to send a message, to all of the world, not just Canada that there are a number of people who are standing up for rights and freedoms of choice, and that is the message that needs to be clearly made here,” said Tom Coffey, one of the organizers of the rally.

“It’s not about mandates, it’s not about vaccinations or unvaccinations, it is about the freedom of choice and to have that choice presented to you and you being able to make that choice with an informed decision. ” Coffey added.

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Last week truckers began their convoy in B.C, and arrived in Medicine Hat on Monday. Initially, the convoy was in opposition to cross-border vaccine mandates for truckers, but it has evolved to ending all mandates. Tamara Lich, a local Medicine Hat woman is one of the people behind the country-wide movement. A GoFundMe page started by Lich has raised over $8.3 million. Coffey said he has been in touch with Lich during her journey to Ottawa and he said Lich is feeling “joyful” that the message is being heard.

At the rally, canadian flags were flown and signs were held. Cypress- Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes was also on hand to extend his support.

” I am so grateful and appreciative of the truckers and the donors and the organizers. So much of this started right here in Medicine Hat. How good is that? And here we have tens of thousands of Albertans and Canadians standing up for freedom, standing up for choice, hundreds on my lawn today, demonstrating for freedom. This is so wonderful to stand up for families’ freedom of choice,” Barnes said.

Since the convoy began last week, concerns have been raised about possible ties to white nationalism. But Barnes said that it is not what the movement is about.

“In any big large group, there are going to be individuals. But this group has been so respectful. So hardworking. Let’s handle those situations individually,” Barnes said.

” This is tens and tens of thousands of Albertans and Canadians that found the courage to stand up for families, to stand up for freedom, and to stand up for individual rights,” he said.

Scott Smith, a member of Parents Against COVID-19 Restrictions also attended the rally with his three children.

” I love seeing the truck rally and the truck convoy, they are supporting our freedoms. They have been called fringe group, as you can see we are not a fringe group we are Canadians that believe in freedoms and we want them back, and we love the truckers for supporting us,” he said.