Photo: CPAC screengrab

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed the protest convoy headed for the nation's capital as a “small fringe minority” that holds “unacceptable views.”

The convoy, which rolled out of B.C. on Sunday, is expected to arrive in Ottawa this weekend. It was originally sparked by resistance to a vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the U.S./Canada border, but has since evolved into a general airing of grievances related to pandemic restrictions and Trudeau.

The Prime Minister addressed the convoy during an unrelated announcement Wednesday.

“We know the way through this pandemic is by getting everyone vaccinated, and the overwhelming majority close to 90% of Canadians have done exactly that,” he said.

“The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa are who are holding unacceptable views that they're expressing do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values as a country,” he continued.

Estimates of how many convoy participants will actually roll into Ottawa this weekend vary widely. Organizers say hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Parliament. Police, meanwhile, say there could be up to 2,000 demonstrators.