Ottawa residents and police breathed a sigh of relief Sunday as protesters stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. The Ottawa Police Department did not specify how many police officers were on standby for what the organizers called a “Rolling Thunder” rally. Ottawa forces had called for help from both Ontario provincial police and the RCMP before protesters began arriving in the capital on Friday. The core of the city center was still on the rise after a three-week protest by a motorcade this winter that shut down the city’s main streets and shut down businesses. As of Sunday afternoon, there had been 10 arrests, mostly of people ordered not to return to Ottawa after being escorted. The “Rolling Thunder” motorcycle escort is located in Ottawa. What is it and how does the city respond? Those behind the planned events of the weekend were not clear about their goal, other than a stated intention to “celebrate our freedom peacefully.” But they were linked to groups participating in the escort protest and were opposed to COVID-19 vaccination orders. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said residents are exhausted and “bored with this kind of thing coming to our city.” He said that we have learned a lot from the exclusion of this winter. “She was obviously much smaller and I think everyone in power did a much better job of coordinating our response,” he said in an interview. Otava police were strongly prepared for the demonstration of this weekend, as the force received many criticism of her response to the escort. Police were then criticized that they were very passive with protesters who surrounded the streets of the city center with large platforms, as well as barbecue, inflatable castles and inflatable hot tubs. Eventually, police in February had to move and forcibly remove people to one of the largest police operations in Canadian history. Community members saw this weekend’s events as a major test for the Ottawa Police Department. The force knew this well, causing precautionary communication with the public about its plans. On Saturday night, the agency issued a statement saying that local police and their associates had stepped up their presence in the center’s core to manage the demonstrations and events. He said many off-road ramps to the city center were closed with the help of OPP and the Ontario Department of Transportation. The Ottawa force also said several escorts and groups were located outside the city, but intelligence gathered showed that many chose not to come to Ottawa “based on the operational stance of the police.” Samuel Field of Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, who drove a truck to Ottawa this weekend and took part in this winter’s motorcade, said police were trying to intimidate protesters and were applying a “marital law mentality”. He said he had received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and decided not to take another because he became ill after the vaccine. This means that he can not travel inside Canada by plane. Mr Field said he was “passionately fighting” the “tyrannical exaggeration” of the federal government. Mr. Watson said on Sunday that additional police resources showed early on their willingness to help the Ottawa force this weekend, something other than a winter blockade. There were a number of trailers on hand on Laurier Avenue in central Ottawa, he said. A major challenge during the escort was securing trailers for the removal of vehicles. Citing federal emergency law in response to protests in Ottawa and other parts of the country this winter, Prime Minister Justin Trindade said the act provides powers, such as forcing truck drivers to remove large platforms away from large platforms. Last week, Public Security Secretary Marco Mendicino told a special committee of lawmakers considering the use of emergency measures that the Liberal government invoked the law because law enforcement informed it that existing measures were not effective in restoring public order. security. A public inquiry will also examine the use of the act. Mr Watson said he had spoken to Mr Mendicino last week and the federal government knew the city would send an account of the costs incurred during the blockade. The City of Ottawa said in a municipal document that federal partners have informed that all winter escort costs are expected to be reimbursed – about $ 35 million. While the final cost of this weekend’s show is not yet known, Mr. Watson expects to raise several million dollars. Mr Mendicino’s spokesman Alex Cohen said the federal government was in close contact with the city, including setting costs. Some members of the Rolling Thunder escort arrived in downtown Ottawa on Friday night, where there was already a large police presence. The Globe and Mail For subscribers: Receive exclusive political news and analysis by subscribing to Political information.
