Citing serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson has declared a state of emergency as Freedom Convoy truckers and their pedestrian supporters continued to occupy the capital on Sunday for the second weekend in a roll.
Watson indicated earlier on Sunday he wants the federal government to help quash the protest, lamenting that police have been outnumbered by the participants at the protests that included road blockades, shooting off fireworks, sidewalks driving and constant horn-honking by the truckers.
Demonstrations are aimed against COVID-19 public health measures and consist of blocking roads and disrupting parts of the city, so Ottawa Mayor demanded support from other jurisdictions and levels of government.
The Ottawa Police Department has also tackled the disruptive nature of the protests, advising demonstrators not to enter Ottawa and to go home, informing in a statement on Sunday that it has issued tickets for the extremely disruptive unlawful behavior they exhibited, including using fireworks and driving violations.
Some of the vehicles used by the demonstrators were seized and towed.
Watson said in his statement that the emergency declaration would allow the municipal administration greater flexibility to enable the City of Ottawa to manage business continuity for essential services for its residents.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance, whose truckers initiated the protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and protocols – dubbed the “Freedom Convoy” – said last week that many protesters present at the demonstrations, which have spread to cities around the country, have no connection to the trucking industry.
Some of the protestors, which came from the United States have prompted several criminal investigations- including by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and various state prosecutors – into threatening and illegal behavior, also prompting crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to reverse its decision to redistribute nearly $8 million (Can$10 million) in donations made to ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest following backlash on social media and threats of investigations.
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