OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Ottawa police on Saturday said they have a plan in place to dismantle the demonstrations in Canada’s capital city but are waiting for backup before carrying it out.
The Ottawa Police Service said it has deployed all available officers and is preparing “to monitor events across the province” and adjust plans locally.
“Overnight, demonstrators exhibited aggressive behaviour towards law enforcement, including refusing to follow directions, overwhelming officers, and otherwise subverting enforcement efforts,” the OPS said in a statement. “We have a plan to end this unlawful occupation and await the necessary reinforcements to do so.”
Authorities also said officers were sent to downtown school neighborhoods Friday “in response to reports of demonstrators harassing children.”
There are 140 active criminal investigations going on in connection to the Ottawa protests. More than 2,600 tickets have been issued.
“Intelligence and evidence gathering teams continue to collect financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status, and other related evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions,” OPS said.
OTTAWA TRUCKERS AND SUPPORTERS STAYING DESPITE THREATS OF ARREST AND BRIDGE BLOCKAGE CLEARING
The protests began after a group of Canadian truckers and their supporters drove from Western Canada to Ottawa to challenge a regulation that requires truckers returning from the United States to show proof of vaccination. If the truckers are not fully vaccinated, they will be subjected to COVID-19 testing, quarantine requirements, and possible fines. There are similar requirements on the U.S. side of the border.
While the Ottawa protest began with the truckers fighting the vaccine mandate, it has broadened to demand that all COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown measures be lifted. There are now calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be ousted from office.
Over the past few days, the protests have grown dramatically in size and support, with most of the frustration aimed directly at Trudeau, who initially tried to downplay them as a fringe minority. However, as more and more people joined the cause, his tone has become increasingly combative.
On Friday, Trudeau issued his most strongly worded statement to date, telling truckers and their supporters to stand down or face “severe consequences.”
Trudeau threatened to suspend commercial trucking licenses and said the government would pursue charges that could come with jail time and hefty fines. The punishments would also prohibit protesters from ever traveling internationally again.
Trudeau has attempted to discredit the truckers in recent days. He’s repeatedly chastised them, suggesting they are terrorists, racists, or homophobes bent on creating havoc.
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Trucker Andy Wing called Trudeau’s rhetoric “disgusting.”
“I think it’s disgusting for any leader of a country to vilify people for exercising their democratic rights, their right to protest, the right to demonstrate peacefully,” he said.
