Elon Musk heaps more praise on trucker convoy in Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s fascination with and support of Canadians gathered in Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates continued over the week.

Musk first took to Twitter Jan. 27 and praised truckers en route to the nation’s capital. They are opposed to a federal vaccine mandate that requires them to be innoculated before they can return to Canada after a trip to the United States, which has similar regulations.

After two days of demonstrations, desecration of the National War Memorial and the Terry Fox statue and general gridlock caused by tractor-trailers parked throughout the city, Musk returned to Twitter to offer praise.

In reply to a tweet containing a video that shows protestors in front of Parliament Hill and trucks parked throughout the city, Musk said:

“It would appear that the so-called “fringe minority” is actually the government.”

He then took aim at the Canadian government.

“If the government had the mandate of the people, there would be a significant counter-protest. There is not, therefore they do not.”

Finally, he acknowledged the devotion of the protestors.

“Protesting in a Canadian winter shows real commitment!”

The temperature hovered around -10 C Sunday.

The Ottawa Police Service says crowds and vehicles clogged the capital's downtown core through the night as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the federal Liberal government entered its second day.

The force says officers encountered several "challenges" with demonstrators, including trucks sporadically blocking off access to roads, but the incidents were resolved with no arrests.

Police say they continue to monitor the demonstration with a focus on "keeping the peace," maintaining access to emergency lanes and addressing any "threatening high-risk behaviour.

The demonstration was initially aimed at denouncing vaccine mandates for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border, but the movement has morphed into a protest against a variety of COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

It's not clear when demonstrators plan to end their park-in protest as some protesters have vowed not to move until all their demands are met.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.