Canada’s public security minister said Tuesday that the Rolling Thunder motorcycle convoy entering Ottawa on Friday will not be a repeat of the Freedom Convoy’s occupation earlier this year.
“We will not have a repeat in January or February,” said Marco Mendicino.
“We will provide the tools and resources that law enforcement agencies need to comply with the law.
Read more: Ottawa police prepare for new convoy protest, bans downtown vehicles
5:41 Trudeau convoy truck response fails, but even fewer protesters: Ipsos poll Answer Trudeau convoy truck response fails, but even fewer protesters: Ipsos poll – 24 February 2022 Mendicino said Ottawa residents were still recovering from the occupation of the convoy of trucks, which saw the closure of the city’s Rideau Mall, with loud noises at all times and reports of harassment.
“It’s still very fresh in their minds,” Mendicino said. “People’s lives have been completely turned upside down. I would say that there is still extreme sensitivity. “
Ottawa cited the Emergency Situations Act in response to demonstrations across the country that allowed the personal finances of those involved to be frozen. An investigation into the call began on Monday.
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The Rolling Thunder Ottawa 2022 motorcycle convoy plans to arrive in Ottawa on Friday and will hold a rally on Saturday, which organizers say will include a motorcycle procession around the National War Memorial. The memorial was a site of strife during the previous occupation of Ottawa, with protesters claiming that COVID-19 restrictions had desecrated a monument to the Canadian Armed Forces.
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Read more: Convoy organizer warns of “free for all” if police ban protests in downtown Ottawa
Rolling Thunder organizers say veterans of the Freedom Convoy were tasked with guarding the monument 24 hours a day by law enforcement, but they were removed during efforts to end the occupation of downtown Ottawa, which they said is “desecration”.
“Rolling Thunder Ottawa will restore the dignity of the war memorial,” said an official statement from the group’s Facebook page.
However, Ottawa police said vehicle protests would be banned in certain areas of downtown Ottawa, including near Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial, and there would be an increase in the number of officers patrolling the weekend with the help of the RCMP and police. Province of Ontario.
Rolling Thunder organizer Neil Sheard has warned of possible consequences if the planned route is hampered.
“Thousands of people come to the city. There may be over a thousand bicycles coming to your city. We had a nailed route, “Sheard said in a YouTube video posted on Sunday.
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“It will now be free for everyone.”
– with files from Isaac Callan and The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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