‘Freedom Convoy’ anniversary may draw 500 people to Parliament Hill, security warns | 24CA News
The Parliamentary Protective Service mentioned Friday it expects round 500 individuals to collect this weekend on Parliament Hill to mark one yr for the reason that so-called “Freedom Convoy” rolled into downtown Ottawa.
The PPS, which gives safety for the parliamentary precinct, mentioned it is going to curtail some entry to Parliament Hill over the weekend as a precaution. The public can nonetheless use the central and east gates to entry the lawns of Parliament Hill, however not the gates closest to the West Block, which is house to the House of Commons whereas Centre Block is present process renovations.
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Public excursions have been cancelled and Ottawa police have mentioned the drive shall be implementing the continued closure of Wellington Street to car site visitors.
Ottawa police mentioned, “illegal activity or obstructing or impeding the flow of traffic with vehicles on any roadway will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and immediate action.”
The demonstration that started on Jan. 28, 2022, noticed 1000’s of protesters with massive automobiles parked en mass in Ottawa’s downtown, honking loud horns day and evening.
The federal authorities invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 – for the primary time in Canada’s historical past – in response to frame blockades and demonstrations throughout the nation. The Act let the federal authorities prolong particular powers to police and monetary establishments, together with freezing financial institution accounts related to the individuals and organizers, till it was revoked per week later.
Large vans occupied Wellington Street, which runs adjoining to Parliament Hill, for weeks throughout that demonstration, and have been solely eliminated after the Emergencies Act was invoked.
An Ottawa municipal committee voted Thursday to reopen Wellington Street, which is in entrance of Parliament Hill and has been closed for the reason that demonstrations, no sooner than March 1.
City council will vote on the choice in early February.
Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs had mentioned earlier within the week that assets, tow vans and staffing plans are in place for the weekend.
“Residents and businesses will see an increased police presence in the downtown core and its surrounding areas. Although there is the potential for some level of protest, we are prepared,” Stubbs mentioned in an announcement.
“For this weekend and all through February, we have a scalable operational plan with external agencies supporting us. We will have resources, logistics, traffic, towing and staffing plans in place to address any type of scenario and will not allow the conditions to occur that resulted in the February 2022 convoy.”
Ottawa metropolis Coun. Ariel Troster mentioned in an announcement Friday the anniversary might probably be “upsetting” to constituents in her ward of Somerset, which is in downtown Ottawa and was among the many hardest-hit neighbourhoods in the course of the demonstration.
“While we expect this weekend to be managed smoothly, we know that this anniversary could be upsetting to many residents and business owners in Somerset Ward,” she mentioned, citing a listing of help assets constituents can contact if wanted.
“I am confident that the city’s experience with the smaller protests we have seen throughout the last year has improved coordination between stakeholders and there is every reason to be hopeful that this weekend will pass us by without significant disruptions.”
— with recordsdata from Global News’ Eric Stober
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
