Many participants in the massive anti-vaccination protest that paralyzed Ottawa over the weekend plan to continue the rally Monday, much to the chagrin of business owners, school administrators and parliamentarians who hoped for a return to normalcy.
In addition, the Ottawa Police Service has indicated that it will investigate all illegal acts allegedly committed during the demonstrations, including the desecration of certain monuments.
Protesters and vehicles continued throughout the day on Sunday to block traffic in the federal capital.
Residents of downtown Ottawa could hear a cacophony of car horns. The consequences of these protests were felt beyond Parliament Hill.
Residents have again been advised to avoid travel downtown where there are still a good number of truckers and other protesters who oppose sanitary measures to fight COVID-19. The routes of several bus lines have been modified near the Hill. One shopping mall, the Rideau Centre, remained closed.
Originally planned to be a protest against the compulsory vaccination of truckers to cross the Canada-US border, the demonstration turned into a rally against Justin Trudeau and all the measures taken to fight against COVID-19.
The House of Commons is due to resume on Monday. Several MPs were planning to participate in the sessions virtually because of the pandemic that is still raging in the country.
Alexandra Maheux, spokesperson for Mark Holland, leader of the government in the House of Commons, does not foresee that the demonstrations will cause obstruction to the work of elected officials.
“There is important work that needs to be done for Canadians in Parliament; we intend to move forward and get results,” she said late Sunday.
A memorandum circulated Sunday by Sergeant-at-Arms and director general of House of Commons protective services Patrick McDonell said security measures were prepared to protect staff.
Mark Holland meanwhile planned to hold a press conference at 9:30 a.m. on Monday about the new parliamentary session. He should be asked about the protesters refusing to leave and making a lot of noise just outside the Parliament Buildings. He should also be asked how long the authorities will tolerate their presence.
On its website, the group Canada Unity, one of the main organizers of the demonstration, announced speeches that would be given in Major’s Hill Park, south of the Parliament Buildings.
According to the site, protesters plan to go to malls without wearing face coverings in order to disobey public health guidelines, hold loud outdoor parties and pressure the media.
It is unclear when the convoy of trucks will leave the nation’s capital. Some protesters said they intended to stay put until all their demands were met.
Protester Kathleen Biggar wondered what might unfold in the nation’s capital on Monday. Like many others, she planned to leave on Sunday. She suspects that if the protesters stayed, the local population could turn against them.
“I don’t know the solution. We are at a point where we have to wonder where this will go, ”she said.
For its part, the Ottawa Police Service has indicated that it intends to focus during the evening on the implementation of exit and traffic measures aimed at moving crowds and vehicles out of the centre. city. This process will call upon significant police and municipal personnel.
Trucker Erik Mueller is one of the die-hard protesters who have no intention of leaving the nation’s capital. He says he is ready to stay “as long as it takes”.
A city councilor, Catherine McKenney, whose district covers downtown Ottawa, said people were getting fed up with the presence of the protesters.
The protests have been “unusually disruptive” to downtown residents, she said.
“I understand that the police, both local and national, do not want to engage the crowd, but at some point, we will have to receive assurances that the occupation of our city will end. »
According to another municipal councillor, Mathieu Fleury, “people who intimidate our neighbours, block our streets, make noise and harass our authorities and our journalists have no place in our city. They have to go. »
Authorities are encouraging protesters to obtain a permit to gather to help them coordinate city services and schedule street closures. However, this is not mandatory.
Canada Unity chose not to apply for a permit.
Police said they and city staff were “well aware of public complaints about parking, running engines, noise and other inappropriate behavior.”
“Right now, due to security concerns, protest and traffic management must take precedence,” she added.
Tensions
Not all protesters are peaceful, as an incident at Shepherds of Hope, an aid organization for the homeless, demonstrated.
The organization’s president and CEO, Deirdre Freiheit, said several protesters showed up at the community dining room on Saturday. They were rude to the staff, demanding to be served.
Food was given to them in order to calm the situation, Ms Freiheit added. However, from now on, meals will only be served to those who really need them.
Ottawa police say they will maintain heavy manning at all locations occupied by protesters. Its main purpose was to keep the peace, establish safe routes for emergency vehicles, and respond to any threatening and “high risk” behavior.
National monuments have been protected. Barriers have been installed to prevent vehicles from entering the driveway in front of the National War Memorial.
The authorities condemned the “profanations” that took place at this place on Saturday. Videos have been released showing protesters jumping on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“I am appalled to see protesters dancing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and desecrating the National War Memorial,” wrote Chief of the Defense Staff General Wayne Eyre. Generations of Canadians have fought and died for our rights, including free speech, but not for this. Those involved should be ashamed. »
Other protesters hung an inverted Canadian flag and an anti-vaccine placard on Saturday on the statue of Terry Fox, a young Canadian who died of cancer after crossing the country in a marathon with a prosthetic right leg below his knee amputee, to make Canadians aware of the importance of financially supporting cancer research.
The gesture of the demonstrators aroused a wave of indignation. Ottawa police said they were sending investigators to the scene to gather evidence.
So far, no violent incidents have been reported.
Elected observers also denounced those who displayed Nazi symbols and Confederate flags, which recall the period of slavery in the United States, deploring a great lack of judgment.