The Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, has declared a state of emergency in a bid to deal with an unprecedented 10-day occupation by protesting truckers. The protesters have blocked much of the center of the Canadian capital.
In a recent statement, Watson said: “[This] reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government.”
While talking before declaring the state of emergency, Watson said the demonstrators were more than the police and were in control of the situation. He did not give details of what measures he might impose.
The protesters, who got to Ottawa recently, parked their trucks on the streets of the city and put up tents and temporary shacks that paralyzed the capital.
The so-called “freedom truck convoy” commenced as protests by truck drivers that were not happy with vaccine requirements for passing through the US-Canada border, but have transformed into bigger protests against COVID-19 health restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said that the government would not reverse the vaccine decision.
While talking to CBC television, Mendicino said: “We put the question of vaccines and vaccine mandates on the ballot … in the [2021] election and we’re simply carrying out the promise that we made with the support of the vast majority of Canadians.”
Amid residents’ anger over no official response, Ottawa police transferred some protesters and arranged fresh barricades, saying they are “collecting financial, digital, vehicle registration … and other evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions”.
Also, they announced they would clamp down on protesters trying to bring in canisters to refuel the trucks that are blocking most roads in the center of Ottawa.
During a recent emergency meeting with Ottawa officials, Police Chief Peter Sloly made it known that he lacked the resources to halt what he called a “siege”, and requested reinforcements.
