{{Short description|Canadian protest group}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}{{use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox organization | name = Canada Unity | formation = 2019 | founder = Sandra and James Bauder | headquarters = Calgary | location = Canada }}
'''Canada Unity''' is a group that campaigned against COVID-19 mask mandates and vaccine passports during the Canada convoy protest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=1 Nov 2022 |title=Convoy inquiry hears of death threat against Freeland as organizer describes 'power struggle' among protesters |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freedom-convoy-chris-barber-power-struggle-1.6636737 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105015714/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freedom-convoy-chris-barber-power-struggle-1.6636737 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Co-led by James Bauder, the group attempted to have the federal government of Canada brought down by the Governor General during the 2022 Canada Convoy Protest.
It planned to organize a second convoy protest in 2023, but cancelled its own plans due to security concerns.
== Organization == The group was founded by Sandra<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Charlie |date=2022-03-06 |title=Freedom convoy organizer James Bauder announces plans for large convoy to Victoria to fight vaccine mandates |url=https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/news/freedom-convoy-organizer-james-bauder-announce-plans-for-a-major-convoy-to-victoria-to |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224117/https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/news/freedom-convoy-organizer-james-bauder-announce-plans-for-a-major-convoy-to-victoria-to |url-status=live }}</ref> and James Bauder<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fraser |first=Laura Osman and David |date=2022-11-03 |title=Freedom, politics, control and money: the many motivations of the 'Freedom Convoy' |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/freedom-politics-control-and-money-the-many-motivations-of-the-freedom-convoy-1.6136959 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=CP24 |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224054/https://www.cp24.com/news/freedom-politics-control-and-money-the-many-motivations-of-the-freedom-convoy-1.6136959 |url-status=live }}</ref> of Calgary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Jacquie |date=7 Oct 2022 |title='Freedom Convoy' organizer James Bauder wants trial moved from Ottawa |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/freedom-convoy-organizer-james-bauder-wants-trial-moved-from-ottawa |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=ottawacitizen |language=en-CA |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008121945/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/freedom-convoy-organizer-james-bauder-wants-trial-moved-from-ottawa |url-status=live }}</ref>
The group's Facebook page was registered in late 2019.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ling |first=Justin |author-link=Justin Ling |date=28 Jan 2022 |title=Canadian MPs Told to Hide From Anti-Vaxxer Trucker Convoy By Security |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mps-told-to-hide-from-anti-vaxxer-trucker-convoy-by-parliament-security-chief/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Vice |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105000639/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvnd34/mps-told-to-hide-from-anti-vaxxer-trucker-convoy-by-parliament-security-chief |url-status=live }}</ref> By March 2021, the group's website had close to 375,000 members.<ref name=":2" />
== Activities == The group had a low profile<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ling |first=Justin |author-link=Justin Ling |date=2022-02-07 |title=Ottawa protests: how did the rallies against vaccine mandates begin and what's next? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/07/ottawa-protests-explainer-vaccine-mandates-whats-next |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224054/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/07/ottawa-protests-explainer-vaccine-mandates-whats-next |url-status=live }}</ref> until the January lead up to the Canada convoy protest, when the group organised protestor's movement to Ottawa<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frew |first=Nicholas |date=29 Jan 2022 |title=Truck convoy arrives at Alberta Legislature in support of anti-vaccine-mandate protest in Ottawa |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-truck-convoy-alberta-legislature-vaccine-mandate-1.6332527 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224054/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-truck-convoy-alberta-legislature-vaccine-mandate-1.6332527 |url-status=live }}</ref> and published routes to the protest location on its website.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Proulx |first=Boris |date=2022-11-03 |title=Tamara Lich se méfiait des profiteurs au sein du Convoi |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/769468/commission-rouleau-tamara-lich-se-mefiait-de-d-autres-groupes-du-convoi |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Le Devoir |language=fr |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224111/https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/769468/commission-rouleau-tamara-lich-se-mefiait-de-d-autres-groupes-du-convoi |url-status=live }}</ref> During the Canada convoy protest, the group tried to advance a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Governor General of Canada Mary Simon to bring down the federal government of Canada<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crete |first=Mylene |date=2022-10-21 |title=Commission sur l'état d'urgence {{!}} Un organisateur du convoi voulait rencontrer Mary Simon et Justin Trudeau |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2022-10-21/commission-sur-l-etat-d-urgence/un-organisateur-du-convoi-voulait-rencontrer-mary-simon-et-justin-trudeau.php |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=La Presse |language=fr |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224056/https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2022-10-21/commission-sur-l-etat-d-urgence/un-organisateur-du-convoi-voulait-rencontrer-mary-simon-et-justin-trudeau.php |url-status=live }}</ref> and revoke COVID-19 public health measures, despite that being legally impossible for a governor general to do.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Aiello |first=Rachel |date=2022-11-01 |title=Emergencies Act inquiry hears from 'Freedom Convoy' organizers about power struggles, protest origins |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/emergencies-act-inquiry-hears-from-freedom-convoy-organizers-about-power-struggles-protest-origins/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=CTVNews |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224111/https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/emergencies-act-inquiry-hears-from-freedom-convoy-organizers-about-power-struggles-protest-origins-1.6134135 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the 2022 Emergencies Act Inquiry, protest leader Chris Barber said he did not like the undemocratic nature of the MOU.<ref name=":1" /> The MOU attracted 320,000 signatures before being withdrawn by the Canada Unity.<ref name=":1" />
By 2022, all other convoy protest leaders had disassociated themselves from Canada Unity.<ref name=":0" />
The group planned a second convoy labeled "Freedom Convoy 2.0"<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=27 Dec 2022 |title=Convoy organizers set sights for Winnipeg |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/second-round-convoy-protests-winnipeg-1.6698072 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104054818/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/second-round-convoy-protests-winnipeg-1.6698072 |url-status=live }}</ref> and also "World Unity Convoy"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dyck |first=Iris |date=28 Dec 2022 |title='World Unity Convoy' planned for February in Winnipeg, organizers say - Winnipeg {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9376494/world-unity-convoy-february-winnipeg/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Global News |language=en-US |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302225810/https://globalnews.ca/news/9376494/world-unity-convoy-february-winnipeg/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of vehicles to Ottawa for February 17 to 21, 2023, but changed their plans in favour of Winnipeg in late December 2022.<ref name=":3" /> In early January 2023 the second convoy plans were cancelled due to security related issues.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 February 2023 |title='World Unity' convoy gathers outside Winnipeg, proclaims new message of peace |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/convoy-dugald-manitoba-1.6753604 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316080315/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/convoy-dugald-manitoba-1.6753604 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also == * COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.canada-unity.ca/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104224212/https://www.canada-unity.ca/ |date=November 4, 2022 }}
{{Canada convoy protest}} {{COVID-19 pandemic in Canada}}
Category:Canada convoy protest Category:COVID-19 pandemic in Canada Category:2020s in Ottawa Category:COVID-19 vaccination in Canada