Get ready Canada. There is a new convoy en route to Ottawa with a message for Prime Minister Mark Carney. Its message goes something like this: stop investing in fossil fuels immediately, decarbonize our economy and remake Canada as a clean technology leader.

Instead of middle-aged white folks piloting diesel trucks, this convoy — or caravan, as they call it — is composed of seniors driving electric vehicles. Their demeanour is definitely less menacing than the nasty “Freedom Convoy” crowd that blockaded Ottawa during the pandemic to protest lockdowns and vaccine mandates. But don’t mistake their relative peacefulness for passivity: their dismay and anger over plans for another oil pipeline, new LNG projects and coal mines is palpable. 

Canadians are concerned about jobs and the economy, says Michael Polanyi, a long-time climate activist and founder of Seniors Climate Witness, who organized the trek. “Some politicians are playing on that and portraying a new pipeline as a solution. I don’t think the evidence is there.” 

The caravan members are gathering testimonials from people who share their concern for the climate in 16 cities along the way and aim to be in Ottawa on Sept. 19 to join young people at the Fridays for Future march. They have also requested a meeting with the prime minister. If they are........

© National Observer