What began as a protest against vaccine requirements for truck drivers has grown into a widening movement as Trudeau refuses to engage with demands.
Columns of big-rig trucks, pickups and RVs have blockaded the heart of the Canadian capital since 28 January. Camped out in the vehicles are several hundred protesters – including many children – who have driven thousands of kilometres to be here.
US officials have urged Canada’s government to use its federal powers to end a blockade by truckers protesting against Covid restrictions.
President Joe Biden is being briefed regularly on the protests, which have hit Ottawa and a border crossing that generates a quarter of US-Canada trade.
Car-makers and local authorities are seeking an injunction to end the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge.
An Ontario court has stopped protesters from accessing online donations.
The truckers have raised over $8m (C$10m £5.9m) through online platform GiveSendGo, after being kicked off GoFundMe for allegedly violating its policy on harassment.
Meanwhile, the prime minister has refused to lend legitimacy to this movement by engaging with the protesters’ demands – a decision that led two Liberal party members to break rank. Meanwhile, the failure to take decisive action to break up the protest has exposed Trudeau to criticism from all other party leaders.
The discord in parliament has allowed protest organisers to become further emboldened in their demands, with some of them openly call for Trudeau to be forced from office.
The Freedom Convoy is quickly becoming a defining moment in Trudeau’s leadership.