Ottawa police say they expect more protests and larger than usual crowds during the Canadian Day celebrations in the capital this July as freedom convoy groups continue to plan protests.
In a statement, the Ottawa Police Department (OPS) said it was “working with Canada Day organizers and our police partners to implement a public safety plan that allows all Canadians and visitors to freely and safely enjoy the capital during this celebration. “
Significant road closures and increased police presence are expected. Police said additional funds were being raised from other services.
Several groups – most formed by the Freedom Convoy – have been planning protests in Ottawa all summer, including many of the key figures and prominent streamers involved in the ongoing Freedom Movement.
The cohort, which includes many of the groups participating in the protests earlier this year, as well as some that emerged afterwards, is coordinating events over the summer.
Protests are expected to take place in the city on June 30, when James Top, a veteran marching across Canada in protest of the remaining vaccine mandates, plans to end his trip across the country at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.
James Top began walking to Ottawa in February, inspired by the Freedom Convoy and worried, he said, about the government’s overwork. (CBC)
Top began traveling to Ottawa in February, inspired by convoy protests and concerned, he said, about the government’s over-reach of people who have chosen not to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“As it is now, I have not yet been invited back to work,” he said. “This whole march, its purpose was to serve as a protest. I felt it was a violation in several different ways.”
Top said there was no talk of dropping vaccine mandates when the protest began. He intends to meet with lawmakers after arriving in Ottawa.
“I felt obliged to address these members of parliament and have a conversation that was not held earlier this year with the other protesters who had gone to Ottawa, so this is my protest in my own way,” he said. he.
It is not known which MPs agreed to talk to Top.
The Rolling Thunder rally took place in the last weekend of April, but turned pale compared to the size of the convoy’s protests months earlier. (Michael Charles Cole / CBC)
A protest base outside Ottawa is planned
The Top March is backed by Veterans 4 Freedom, one of the main groups responsible for organizing the Rolling Thunder protests in April.
The group’s steering committee includes Tom Marazzo, who also gained notoriety during the Ottawa convoy protests, sometimes acting as an official spokesman for the protesters. He also ran for Peterborough Cavarta, riding for the Ontario Party.
Renowned streamer Andrew McGillivray, co-founder of Veterans 4 Freedom, says the group has been in contact with Ottawa police about Top’s arrival.
He also noted that the events will continue on Canada Day. The route of Top’s hike in the city is circulating online and plans for a weekend of camping in the center near the Parliament Hill are being developed.
McGillivray said the group wanted to “have the least impact on Ottawa citizens in their daily lives”.
Ottawa police say residents have been asked about the potential for a protest around the national holiday on July 1, which will not be held on Parliament Hill this year.
“We will not allow conditions that led to the illegal protests in February to reappear. “We are applying the lessons learned from the illegal protest, as well as the Thunderstorms and related protests, to build our plan,” the statement said.
“We will continue with an approach that bans vehicle-based protests in and around areas of national importance.
McGillivray said construction had begun on a permanent protest structure just outside Ottawa that would serve as a base all summer.
“We will implement our strategy and plan to rely on the government through information, education, etc.,” he said, adding that they plan to leave around Labor Day weekend.
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