Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a fresh call on Thursday for the protesters occupying downtown Ottawa to move on, while suggesting his government is unlikely to deploy the military to help end the demonstration.
"The people of Ottawa deserve to have their lives back, deserve to have their neighbourhoods back," he told reporters. "The citizens of Ottawa … are increasingly being very vocal about the fact that this needs to stop.
"We’ve seen seniors step forward, we’ve seen young families being very, very vocal about the fact that this is absolutely unacceptable."
Trudeau added his government will look at any formal requests for for military help in ending the protests, but has not received any.
“One has to be very, very cautious before deploying military in situations engaging Canadians,” he said. “As of now there have been no requests, and that is not in the cards right now.”
Ottawa’s police chief had raised the possibliity of help from the military as part of ending the occupation, which is calling for an end to all COVID-19 mandates.
When asked if he would consider meeting with the protesters, Trudeau demurred, saying he’s focused on the mandate the government received in the last election to continue to take measures to end the pandemic.
POLICE ISSUE TICKETS
Ottawa police say they issued a host of traffic tickets and charged one person criminally on Wednesday in the ongoing ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests downtown.
The new charges came as the city’s police chief says the service is looking at "every single option" to end the occupation of downtown Ottawa, as the protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures continues.
The charges included eight for unnecessary noise (honking horns), one for transporting dangerous goods (insecure fuel cans), one for an improper muffler, and others for various driving offences such as disobeying signs, driving the wrong way, an unsafe lane change, distracted driving, speeding and running a stop sign.
One person was also criminally charged for driving while prohibited. Their vehicle was impounded for 45 days. It’s the fourth person criminally charged in relation to the demonstration.
The charges were laid in the Centretown, Sandy Hill, the Glebe and the ByWard Market and Lowertown areas, police said.
On Wednesday, Ottawa’s head of emergency services Kim Ayotte said bylaw had issued 115 tickets within the protest zone.
With dozens of vehicles remaining parked in front of Parliament Hill and on several streets in the downtown core, calls are getting louder from residents, businesses and politicians to end the six-day protest.
"I am increasingly concerned there is no policing solution to this," said Chief Peter Sloly on Wednesday. "And that other solutions are going to have to be considered well beyond my ability to dictate."
The chief says options being considered include a court injunction or forced removal of the demonstrators, negotiations and assistance from the military.
The leaders of the main group behind the demonstration, ‘Freedom Convoy 2022,’ have scheduled a news conference Thursday afternoon to "address various issues surrounding their protest"
The demonstration has closed several roads in the downtown core, and disrupted transit service. Gatineau’s STO says it will only offer a link to Ottawa via the Chaudiere Bridge.
Several businesses remain closed in the downtown core, including the Rideau Centre. The Ottawa Public Library Main and Rideau branches will remain closed through the weekend.
Orgaxjmtzywnizers of the "Freedom Convoy" released a statement on Wednesday, vowing to stay "as long as it takes" for all governments to end COVID-19 related mandates. The convoy leaders expressed regret that residents in downtown Ottawa are "bearing this inconvenience" due to the protest.
"The responsibility for your inconvenience lies squarely on the shoulders of politicians who have prefer to vilify and call us names rather than engage in respectful, serious dialogue," said Chris Barber.
"The fastest way to get us out of the nation’s Capital, is to call your elected representatives and end all C-19 mandates."
Ottawa police said Wednesday they are anticipating the protest will grow again this weekend as more demonstrators return to the capital.
TRACTOR CONVOY TO OTTAWA
A tractor convoy is being planned from Alexandria to Ottawa on Saturday to show support for the truckers involved in the "Freedom Convoy."
According to the Facebook Group "Farmer Convoy to Ottawa 2.0", the convoy will depart Alexandria at 6 a.m. and travel to Ottawa.
The group had 1,900 followers as of Wednesday evening.
INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE
Ottawa police say 25 active investigations continue into the protest on Parliament Hill and downtown streets.
Late Wednesday, police asked the public for help identifying a suspect in the desecration of the National War Memorial.
Three people have been charged in connection to the demonstration.
The price tag for the six days of policing the protest is now $3 million and climbing.
“At some point we will be turning to the federal and municipal governments for support to offset these significant and growing costs,” said Blair Dunker, chief administrative officer for OPS
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
A man walks past signs fixed to the fence surrounding Parliament where the truckers protest continues to block streets in Ottawa’s downtown core on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
