Mayor Helps asks truck convoy protesters to ‘respect the values of our city’ this weekend

Another truck convoy protest is planned in Victoria this weekend, and Mayor Lisa Helps is asking participants to respect small businesses and citizens while exercising their democratic rights.

“As the capital city, we expect protests to take place and people to exercise their democratic right to gather and express their views,” Helps said in a statement today.

“However, emails from residents and businesses in the wake of last weekend’s protests show that some of the people involved in the protests went beyond the right to peacefully gather and infringed on the well-being and safety of others.”

Helps said that the city has received reports of home with “We heart healthcare workers” signs being egged and people using anti-Semitic and racist language.

People have also reportedly been violating public health orders by entering businesses without masks and putting employees at risk.

“Victoria is a welcoming and inclusive city. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable,” added Helps. “My request is that this weekend’s protests respect the values of our city and do not promote hate or put our already struggling and much-loved local businesses at further risk.”

The Victoria Police say they will be attending for public safety, and CCTV cameras will be active during the protest.

Traffic disruptions are expected in the area of the BC Legislature.