Operational Context
Canada has a long history of agricultural and sector-based protests involving vehicle convoys, slow-rolls, and occasional blockades affecting highways, border crossings and port corridors. Previous events, including carbon tax demonstrations and port labour actions, have led to significant delays on critical transport networks such as the Trans-Canada Highway and major urban connectors. Protests are typically daytime-focused and peaceful but can persist when blockades or semi-permanent camps form. Businesses reliant on just-in-time logistics, perishable goods or urban commuter labour are especially vulnerable to same-day disruptions.
Executive Summary
- Event Date: 22 November 2025
- Location: Canada – British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
- Risk Category: Civil Disturbance
- Severity Level: 3 / 5
- Confidence Score: 75 %
A nationwide farmers’ protest is scheduled for 22 November, with rallies expected in major cities. Historical patterns show likely slow-rolls, static blockades and localised crowd concentrations on highways and civic centres. Impacts include traffic delays, disruptions to freight flows, law enforcement deployment and short-term business interruption.
Known Hotspots & Sensitive Zones
High Impact:
- Toronto (Queen’s Park, University Avenue, Highway 401 access points)
- Vancouver (Port of Vancouver access roads, Highway 99 corridors)
- Ottawa (Wellington Street, Parliament Hill)
Medium Impact:
- Montreal (Pont Jacques-Cartier, Autoroute 20/720 approaches)
- Calgary and Edmonton civic centres
- Key port-truck access areas
Low Impact:
- Smaller towns with low mobilisation capacity
- Rural areas away from interstate corridors
Winter conditions can exacerbate traffic delays during protests, increasing travel and safety risks.
Impact on Transportation & Services
Road networks may experience blockages, vehicle slow-rolls and restricted access near ports and central business districts. Trucking routes and time-sensitive freight deliveries may face delays. Public transit may reroute around demonstration zones. No anticipated impact on airports or digital services, though staff availability may fluctuate.
Recommended Action
Immediate Measures:
- Activate Emergency Operations Team for 22 November.
- Enable remote work or staggered shifts; issue travel-avoidance advisories for protest hotspots.
- Pre-secure facilities, restrict fleet movement through known choke points and enable GPS geofencing for rerouting.
Strategic Measures:
- Notify customers of potential service delays with adjusted delivery windows.
- Prepare contingency fulfilment from alternative distribution centres.
- Coordinate with municipal police and provincial traffic authorities; maintain incident logs for compliance and insurance.
Multidimensional Impact
If overlapping industrial actions or port labour issues emerge, combined effects could amplify supply-chain delays and urban congestion significantly.
Emergency Contacts
- Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
- Provincial Traffic Alerts: DriveBC, Ontario 511, Québec 511
- Transport Canada: tc.canada.ca/en
Situational Outlook
Baseline expectation: peaceful demonstrations causing temporary slow-downs and minor detours. Moderate escalation includes temporary blockades at highway ramps and port access roads. Severe escalation—though unlikely—may lead to multi-day disruption if encampments form or enforcement actions intensify.
Strategic Takeaway
The protest poses a moderate but manageable operational risk. Early routing adjustments, proactive communication and facility preparedness will minimise disruption. Organisations should leverage real-time monitoring tools such as MitKat’s Datasurfr for route intelligence, incident alerts and continuity planning. Stay ahead of operational risks with real-time alerts, scenario modeling, and expert advisories with datasurfr’s Predict. Start your 14-day free trial of Datasurfr’s Risk Intelligence Platform today.
