Canada Day enforcement efforts in Ottawa included law enforcement officers handing out 275 parking tickets as of 8 a.m. ET Thursday downtown, as well as towing 72 vehicles, as anti-mandate protesters returned to the capital with little problems so far on friday.
In a tweet, bylaw officials said the tow took place in the no-vehicle zone downtown.
We are certainly better prepared and more police officers from different jurisdictions are coming to help this weekend.-Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
The zone is similar to the one that was set up in late April for the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally and covers much of the city centre. It has no street parking allowed and no protest vehicles until at least 6 a.m. Monday.
The area extended west along Albert Street to Bayview Station and east to the Canada Day ByWard Market.
On Thursday night, four people were arrested near the National War Memorial.
As of 8 a.m. on June 29, officers have issued 275 parking tickets and towed 72 vehicles located in the vehicle control area at the site of this weekend’s Canada Day events and demonstrations. < a href="https://t.co/aj94k0QbQH">pic.twitter.com/aj94k0QbQH
—@OttawaBylaw
The Ottawa Police Service said it is investigating the incident, including reviewing video.
Its initial investigations determined that the interaction with an officer became confrontational and the officer was choked, the office tweeted. Police did not say whether one or two officers were involved in the incident.
Despite the arrests, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said enforcement efforts appear to be “working relatively well,” especially compared to the week-long occupation earlier this year of downtown streets.
“I think we’re certainly better prepared and more police officers from different jurisdictions are coming to help this weekend,” Watson said at the Canada Day event on Friday morning.
“It’s always a big day in Ottawa if Canada Day is celebrated. We wanted to make sure that people come here and have a nice, safe and fun experience.”
A man decorated with dozens of Canadian flags walks down Sparks Street in Ottawa on July 1, 2022. (Catherine Morasse/Radio-Canada)
‘Minimal’ police activity, mayor says
Later in the day, Watson said police told him there was “minimal activity” requiring officers to be involved.
Organizers were to hold a “freedom concert” featuring artists who had become popular during the Freedom Convoy by performing on a stage set up in front of Parliament Hill on Wellington Street.
Protesters also planned to march on Friday to Parliament Hill and hold a dance party.
As was the case during April’s Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, many of the Canada Day events are coordinated by Veterans 4 Freedom (V4F), a group formed by central figures involved in the weekly Freedom Convoy winter protests.
Organizers had also planned an “old-fashioned family picnic” at Strathcona Park on Friday morning, but the event was canceled.
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