The “seeking thunder” protest in the national capital over the weekend costs about $ 2.5 to $ 3 million to police, said Police Services President in Ottawa.
Eli El-Chantiri said police expect more convoy protests in the future and a sustainable solution must be found.
The protesters arrived on Friday afternoon as part of a rally “Rolling Thunder” organized by Freedom Fighters Canada, a group dedicated to speaking out against the mandates of COVID-19.
El-Chantiri said police, including officers brought outside the capital, were prepared for each case and had intelligence on the motorcyclists and their plans.
But less was known about the intentions of other non-core protesters, who arrived in pickups, large trucks, cars and campers.
“This group – we do not know who is who,” El-Chantiri said in an interview.
The relatively peaceful protest could have escalated if employees had not been so well prepared, he said.
“It could easily have gone the other way,” he said. “Many people were refused entry to the center with their vehicles.
Ottawa police have called in more than 800 reinforcements from the RCMP and other forces to help, including by blocking highway exits and downtown streets to prevent the formation of a camp.
Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino thanked police, including the RCMP, “for their decisive and effective response to the events in Ottawa over the weekend.”
“Police have incorporated the lessons learned from last winter and taken the proactive steps needed to maintain public safety,” he told The Canadian Press.
El-Chantiri said police also have rapid response teams. Police with riot shields were stationed in downtown Ottawa on Friday night.
The chairman of the police council, which oversees the police service, said he was instructed by interim chief Steve Bell.
Bell was not available for an interview Monday.
Ten people were arrested over the weekend, including seven who had participated in earlier Freedom Convoy protests and violated court orders barring them from returning to Ottawa, Chantiri said.
Ottawa police said in a statement that the arrests related to various crimes under the Penal Code, including violating conditions, assaulting police and causing riots.
The statement added that all traffic restrictions had been lifted, including blocked roads in the city center.
Ottawa police learned from protests in February when crowds of protesters opposed public health measures COVID-19 and the federal government suffocated the streets of Ottawa for weeks, the chairman said.
But the protests are evolving and of a different nature, and the Ottawa police must be ready, he said.
“One size does not fit all,” El-Chantiri said. “It can happen at any time, so we need to prepare and have the resources.”
The federal government has agreed to pay a $ 35 million bill for police control of the three-week Freedom Convoy protest in February.
The occupation prompted the Trudeau government to invoke the Emergency Situations Act for the first time. It ended after hundreds of police officers from across Canada moved to disperse the crowds, making dozens of arrests.
The board chief said a plan – including a financial plan – is needed to deal with future protests that show no signs of stopping.
“We need to find a sustainable way to do that,” he said. “I will work with the federal and provincial governments to find a sustainable way for the future.
It is important for people in downtown Ottawa to be able to enjoy their city without interruption, El Chantiri said.
“I’m trying to find a way to cover those costs and I want the community that lives there now to enjoy the summer and their home,” he said.
Mendicino added: “The people of Ottawa, and in fact all Canadians, have the right to live their daily lives in peace and security. We are grateful that this was the case last weekend.”
This Canadian Press report was first published on May 2, 2022.
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