Maxime Bernier leads protest against COVID-19 health measures and vaccination mandates

Demonstration in Montreal against health measures Hundreds took to the streets in Montreal including Maxime Bernier to protest Quebec’s health measures.

MONTREAL — People's Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier was among the thousands of Quebecers who braved the cold to denounce vaccine mandates and other health measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Montreal's Old Port on Saturday.

"There is no convincing case for compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations," Bernier wrote on Twitter. "Mandatory policies are a blunt tool aimed at covering up government ineptitude."

The Quebec Pro Choice and Free Choice march and protest drew thousands of people carrying signs and banging drums as they walked up St. Laurent Blvd.

Bernier was one of those who spoke in Old Montreal about his opposition to vaccine passports and restaurant dining room closures.

People take part in a demonstration against the Quebec government’s measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Montreal, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes 

Some at the event spoke about their reasons for attending the march. It was not, some said, that they were opposed to getting a vaccination, but rather that the cumpulsion to do so was the issue.

"I'm vaxxed, she's vaxxed," said protester Alf Mayer. "But the thing is, I'm against mandatory vax."

Montreal police monitored the march and a spokesperson said there were no incidents or tickets issued.

The event lasted until around 4 p.m.