Trucks and farm equipment were back in convoy mode last weekend, participating in “slow rolls” the drivers said were organized to show solidarity with Dutch farmers.
Farmers in the Netherlands have been protesting off and on since 2019 against government directives to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia. Protests increased again this summer after further reforms suggest farmers will have to reduce the number of livestock they have or get rid of them entirely.
The country intends to cut emissions of the two pollutants in half by 2030 and help protect about 170 nature reserves.
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Dutch farmers have to reduce their emissions by 70 percent in some regions in order to comply. While some have moved to follow the directive, others say they cannot. The government has established a fund to develop nitrogen-cutting techniques or buy out farms.
Protestors have blocked major highways and bridges to make their point and reports now say they are protesting to gain respect for farmers.
In Canada, the show of support was organized by Freedom Fighters Canada and scheduled to take place July 23 in 50 cities.
Hundreds of vehicles drove from Moose Jaw to Regina, for example, heading north on the city’s main Albert Street.
A Saskatchewan organizer, Mark Friesen, in a video posted on his Facebook page said the participants wanted to create awareness of what is happening in the Netherlands.
“Dutch farmers are being decimated with government policy,” he said. “That same policy is going to be applied here in Canada. They’re looking at a 30 percent reduction in nitrogen fertilizer which will, I mean if it’s going to decimate the smaller farms throughout Europe, it’s going to really decimate the large farms here.”
Friesen also said this affects production of the food supply.
“We have to stand in support,” he said.
In Ottawa, the protest included a rally at the Dutch embassy and a march to Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial.
