Canadians 'feeling oppressed': Newmarket councillor posts pro-Freedom Convoy message on Facebook

Grace Simon visited Ottawa protest, is upset with way Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is depicting demonstrators

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 18, 2022
Lisa Queen

Newmarket Councillor Grace Simon has posted a pro-Freedom Convoy message on her Facebook page that also slams Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“I am so in shock for what is taking place in my country right now. I visited the convoy for myself last weekend, and it was the most peaceful and pleasant protest one could ever experience,” Simon said.

“How the prime minister is able to stand in his position with his actions is so unbelievable. A quote from JT (Justin Trudeau) (says) ‘I will meet with protesters but only with protesters whom I agree with,’ and then he calls them Racists, misogynists ???? The leader of the convoy is a woman!!!”

According to Simon, the protest is about human rights and control.

“Whomever is remaining silent under his leadership is just as guilty by association. This is a very sad and troubling time of leadership for our country. Canadians need to get more vocal about the larger issues here,” she said.

“It’s about a leader who will do anything to keep his control over other human beings. He is saying things that are not true about the people involved in the convoy. The media is supporting his lies.

Different nations, communities, ages, religions and just all-around great people were there being kind and peaceful together for what they believed. The measures being taken are absolutely absurd.”

In an interview with The Era and yorkregion.com, Simon said she remains comfortable with her strongly worded message.

“This is about Justin Trudeau, and I feel like he could have taken different measures. I know that people want their city back; they want the protest to end; I understand that” she said.

“I’m speaking as a person who’s vaccinated and has taken the measures that I need to take. But there are also people that are hardworking Canadians that are making decisions for themselves.”

Trying to force 100 per cent of people to be vaccinated is unrealistic, Simon said.

While her family is vaccinated, she said she respects people’s right to choose for themselves and believes mandates should end.

Simon is upset Trudeau is depicting the protesters are criminals or outside of society when she believes they’re hardworking Canadians from all walks of life.

“It isn’t just the truckers; it’s thousands of Canadians that are feeling oppressed,” she said.

Simon said responses to her post have been positive, including those from police officers and people of different professions, and they appreciate her sharing her views.

Simon declined to say who the police officers were.

Many residents commented on her post on Facebook, both for and against her position.

Mayor John Taylor did not want to comment on Simon's post and said he respects her right to freedom of speech.

However, while he said he strongly supports peaceful protest as a part of a healthy democracy, he believes the situation in Ottawa is an occupation.

If the same weeks' long protest was taking place at Yonge Street and Davis Drive, he said he would stand up for the rights of Newmarket.