Erica Ibrahim, The Canadian Press Published Monday, July 4, 2022 3:06 PM EDT Last Updated Monday, July 4, 2022 5:40 PM EDT
OTTAWA – Protests organized in Ottawa over the weekend, which caused only minimal disruption, were a far cry from the “Freedom Convoy” demonstrations that occupied downtown streets for three weeks earlier this year.
While the initial protests saw vehicles blocking streets, the installation of a speaker platform and a hot tub on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, last weekend’s protests saw measures such as security checks for visiting the Hill and the area being closed to vehicles.
A few hundred people marched through downtown to express their opposition to the federal government’s restrictions and public health, compared to the thousands who flocked on weekends in the winter.
Howard Ramos, chair of the sociology department at Western University, said the context of last weekend’s protest was different, while there was a “perfect storm of amplification” over the winter, including conservative MPs, people on social media and mainstream media coverage. .
Ramos said the Ottawa Police Service and parliament security have learned from the winter demonstrations, as evidenced by the fact that vehicles have not been able to get as close to parliament as in the past.
He said it was also important to note that many of the mandates from the winter have since been relaxed or removed, making it more difficult to get the “broad range of coalitions” that happened in the winter.
Somerset Ward Coun. Catherine McKenney said in an interview that this past weekend was unique in that it was Canada Day, so the city not only expected the protesters, but also knew there would be thousands of people enjoying the holiday.
“So the threat of any kind of collision worried me a lot, it worried my colleagues a lot,” said McKenney, who uses the pronouns they and them.
Bylaw officers issuing tickets are also critical to maintaining order, McKenney said, given that people are not allowed to set up tents, speakers or structures without a permit.
“The bylaw’s response on these aspects was critical to ensuring that we don’t have midnight concerts on Wellington Street, we don’t have stages lined up, we don’t even have tables set up where there is that focal gathering point,” McKenney said.
Feedback from residents has been generally positive, but the significant amount of armed police has taken people by surprise, they said. “We’re just not used to it.”
A balance needs to be struck between community safety and excessive policing, McKenney said, contrasting with February when they were “begging” police to go into residential neighborhoods that were “essentially lawless” and when traffic around the convoy began to thin out somewhat .
Asked what Ottawa police thought they did differently this time, the service in a statement pointed to interim police chief Steve Bell’s June 27 remarks.
Police have been gathering intelligence, talking to organizers and monitoring open-source online comments, he said, adding that the service has taken an “enhanced and expanded stance” that began well before Canada Day and continued “well after.” to ensure that it properly protects the city.
“Robust police planning, deployment and response met the challenges presented by this major event and protests,” a police spokesman said, adding that there were no estimates yet for police spending for the weekend.
The City of Ottawa is working closely with Ottawa police and other police partners in implementing a public safety plan that includes traffic management and enforcement of all applicable city bylaws, said Kim Ayotte, general manager of emergency and protective services. the city, in a statement.
The city is also communicating with residents through various channels leading up to and during the Canada Day weekend, Ayotte said.
The response was reminiscent of the handling of the “Rolling Thunder” protest in late April, when Ottawa police called in more than 800 reinforcements from the RCMP and other forces to help, including by blocking highway exits and inner-city streets to prevent camp formation.
This event cost the police an estimated $2.5 to $3 million.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 4, 2022.
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