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Kennedy Stewart, the mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, hit back at Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, after Cruz predicted there would be "empty shelves" across the city in response to Stewart's rebuke of an ongoing protest led by Canadian truckers who've pushed back against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
"The Freedom Convoy," an ongoing protest in Canada against COVID-19 vaccine requirements for truckers to re-enter the country by land, has continued to garner headlines amid concerns that organizers and groups have been involved with white nationalist contingents, QAnon adherents, and other far-right groups.
Stewart released a pointed statement to the trucker protesters, stating in no uncertain terms:
"Vancouver doesn't want you here. Make your point and go home."
Cruz responded to Stewart's statement saying that Vancouver residents "might feel differently" about the convoy in the event that there are suddenly "empty shelves" in stores.
Mayor says \u201cVancouver doesn\u2019t want\u201d truck drivers there. \n\nFolks might feel differently with empty shelves.https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1489762079682621444\u00a0\u2026— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1644095794
Stewart responded shortly afterward, reminding Cruz that the protesters comprise a minority of truckers because in Canada, 90 percent of truckers are, in fact, vaccinated.
Stewart said that Vancouver's "store shelves are fine thanks to the 90% of Canadian truckers who are fully vaccinated," adding that he is "Too busy high-fiving all the awesome folks" in the city who clearly oppose the convoy.
Can someone tell @tedcruz our store shelves are fine thanks to the 90% of Canadian truckers who are fully vaccinated.\n\nToo busy high-fiving all the awesome folks in #Vancouver that are helping push back against the #hateconvoy.\n\n#vanpoli #covid19https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1490071879557820416\u00a0\u2026— Kennedy Stewart (@Kennedy Stewart) 1644107110
Many have applauded Stewart for his response and criticized Cruz for his assertions.
We\u2019ll said! Keep that ignorant Trumpism out of https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Ken Stewart (@Ken Stewart) 1644195025
Tell em brother!https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Cliff W (@Cliff W) 1644200397
Tell em brother!https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Cliff W (@Cliff W) 1644200397
Mayor of Vancouver let Ted Cruz know he's still not popular in Canadahttps://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Lima Bean/Tamara (@Lima Bean/Tamara) 1644209932
Cruz should sit down and STFU already !https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Dakota (@Dakota) 1644211095
There goes @tedcruz always interfering in other people\u2019s business! In the meantime he and other Republicans doesn\u2019t care if this country goes up in flames! Sad!https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Claudette Haynes (@Claudette Haynes) 1644214141
Vancouver's mayor trolling Ted Cruz. https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Lucie Catnip (@Lucie Catnip) 1644217630
I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a single person, in the world, who respects @tedcruz. Not even Snowflake https://twitter.com/kennedystewart/status/1490119341110558720\u00a0\u2026— Laurie \ud83e\udeb4\ud83d\udcda\u2693\ufe0f\ud83c\udfdc\u26d1 (@Laurie \ud83e\udeb4\ud83d\udcda\u2693\ufe0f\ud83c\udfdc\u26d1) 1644192979
Stewart's statements also mirror recent ones from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who dismissed the supply chain disruption concerns as unfounded on the basis that most Canadian truckers have been vaccinated. Trudeau has called the protests "an insult to truth" and criticized protesters who've called for the overthrow of the federal government.
Similarly, Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, has referred to the "Freedom Convoy's" presence in the city of Ottawa as "an occupation."