The truckers may be gone from Parliament Hill for now, but Airdrie resident Tariq Elnaga believes it has left Western Canadians with an even greater mistrust of the federal government.

Tariq ran for the Maverick Party in the Banff-Airdire riding in the fall federal election and is currently in Ontario, after joining the second wave of the "Freedom Convoy" that headed to Ottawa on Feb 6.

Previous to this, he rode horseback with 350-plus others through the Coutts blockade.

"Whether the physical trucks are on Parliament Hill or not right now, the voice of the people has been spoken," says Elnaga. "Even if those trucks are gone, that voice will stay remain, and I think that will continue, and continue."

He believes the response by the Trudeau Government will lead more Westerners to seek autonomy, something he clearly distinguishes from separation. He believes more people will recognize the need for individual responsibility and speak out against government overreach.

"Here is a government that has continued to ignore the voices of people. It was literally at their doorstep. If they engaged with the protesters, talked to them to find out what they're looking for, what their stories are, they'd find out they're regular folks like you and me.

"I think that's going to have incredibly long-lasting damage to our trust in the government. As it is, trust is very low and now there's been more damage.

"Do we still want to continue to be attached to Ottawa? I think there are a lot of people for whom that question has now been answered."

He discounts labels of racist and misogynist used to describe the thousands of protesters who descended upon Parliament Hill, saying it encompassed Canadians from all walks of life, all ages, and religions.

"It was incredibly safe and family-friendly. It had an atmosphere of hope and positivity. I felt very welcomed, and I'm an immigrant. It was likely the safest city in North America just because of the amount of police presence."

"This is a movement about freedom, about choice. It was never about the vaccine specifically. It was about the freedom of choice and ending the restrictions and lockdown."

He recognizes it caused inconvenience for Ottawa residents but says protesters for the most part were peaceful. The truckers shovelled streets and made sure the homeless were aided.

"They had no beef with Ottawa residents and tried to be as considerate as possible. The thing is, they had a significant beef with a government that has extended its reach far too long and has not given a definitive label of going back to 2019 life."

"It's been 24 months since the government has put businesses out of work, completely reprogrammed the way you and I live, how kids learn in school, and I think it had reached the point where it had been enough."

He said when you walked the protest route from Parliament Hill to downtown Ottawa, you could see plates from across the nation. with those from Ontario and Quebec at the core, reaching outward to other provinces as distant truckers arrived.

"You could see the geography. It was almost like a map of Canada in places."

Elnaga was inspired by the first convoy heading through Airdrie. He decided to directly become involved when Prime Minister Trudeau went into isolation due to COVID.

He thought, "Nope, he sat out a whole bunch of his scandals, he can't sit out this one."

He says the departure of the second convoy was timed for when the Prime Minister was expected to come out of isolation.

"It was more a message to the media, to the people, to the government, that you've got to listen. You can't sit this one out."

About 3,800 kilometres later, he was in Ottawa.

"I went right into the streets. It was positive. it was cheerful, and it was people celebrating freedom. Rather than an angry, negative protest, it was a protest filled with hope and optimism."

Before that, he joined 350-plus people on horseback that went to the Coutts blockade.

"Something I will never forget for the rest of my life is seeing 350-plus horse ride in solidarity with the truckers. It is the most Westerner, the most Albertan thing you'll ever see."