The Ottawa Police Service is urging protesters who have paralyzed downtown Ottawa for nearly three weeks to break camp.
“You must leave the premises now”, “You must immediately cease your illegal activities”, he insists in “notices” distributed to “participants of the demonstration” on Wednesday morning.
The police point out in broad strokes that anyone “blocking the lanes of traffic, or helping others to do so, commits a criminal offence”, can be arrested, be released on bail or not be released and, if she faces charges or convictions, being hit with a travel ban to the United States.
“The people of Ottawa are being deprived of lawful employment, enjoyment and operation of their property, and you are responsible for closing businesses, which constitutes mischief, under the Criminal Code,” also reminds the Ottawa Police Service in its information note also posted online.
The Federal Emergencies Act, cited by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, and its suite of executive orders, released Tuesday, allow police to limit or even ban “travel to, from or within within a designated area”, such as Parliament Hill, and to “seize vehicles” found there.
The Ottawa Police Service is also dissuading anyone from joining the ranks of protesters opposed to sanitary measures that are making rain or shine in the heart of the capital. “Anyone coming to Ottawa for the purpose of joining the ongoing protest is breaking the law,” Ottawa police said.
Further details will follow.