ALEXANDRIA — Eastern Ontario farmers are getting in on the action: A farm-tractor convoy is set to disembark from the Alexandria area this Saturday, Feb. 5, headed for Ottawa to show common cause and reinforce protesting truckers.
Organizers are planning the operation through the “Farmer Convoy to Ottawa 2.0” Facebook group, whose membership has grown to 2,300. It’s not immediately apparent how many farm tractors might be drawn to this Saturday’s procession but the comments are enthusiastic.
“Hey, just wondering if a tractor with duals is gonna be too wide,” Eric Van Loon asked in a post to the group.
Media reports suggest the convoy will leave Alexandria at 6 a.m. and head west on County Rd. 43, to reach Highway 138 at Monkland. On it’s way to the Nation’s Capital, it will also take back roads through a number of rural communities in Prescott and Russell counties.
Kevin Wilson of Wilson Elevators in Vankleek Hill wasn’t planning to take part in the farm-tractor rally, though he was heartened to see the farmers getting involved.
“The more this goes on, people are starting to see a solution [to pandemic restrictions] is possible,” observed Wilson, who already has one transport truck in place at Parliament Hill as part of the truckers’ protest and plans to park another semi downtown this week.
A map of the farm-tractor convoy route shared on the organizers’ Facebook group.
