The Ottawa interim police chief says he has heard community concerns as the city prepares for a new convoy protest, promising it will not be a repeat of the Freedom Convoy earlier this year.
Steve Bell began his speech at the council on Wednesday, addressing the community directly before the Rolling Thunder convoy.
“We know that you are still recovering from the disturbances and crime that the illegal protest has brought to our streets,” he said. “We understand that this has had an impact on all residents and a significant impact on many in our marginalized communities.
“Your police service will not allow dangerous or illegal conditions that could lead to another illegal protest.”
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Mayor Jim Watson said the city’s preparations for the protest were “all-consuming” and he believed they were better organized than before the convoy of trucks.
“We are all busy with this,” he told reporters. “No one wants to repeat what happened during the convoy of trucks, so I believe we are more active and better prepared to deal with the problem.
Police say they will set up an exclusion zone in the center where protest vehicles will not be allowed. This is a different approach than the authorities took during the Freedom Convoy protests earlier this year, when hundreds of trucks took to the streets of the center in three weeks.
“Controlled intersections, new areas without parking and stopping, road closures, towing vehicles and issuing tickets will be part of the implementation strategy,” Bell said.
However, the roads are not closed. Bell said housing and business, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport would be allowed. Heavy city trucks, fences and employees will help control access to certain areas, Bell said.
The convoy of motorcyclists is due to arrive on Friday, with many of the main events scheduled for Saturday. This includes a trip that will pass through part of the city and go through Nicholas Street to Highway 417.
Many participants will stay in hotels in the city center. Some others are gathering at the Eagleson Road site, which police say will have possible traffic delays. There is also a church in Vanie that can host a service on Sunday.
“At that point, they said they would leave town after their events,” Bell said.
Bell said it was too early to say how many people would come, but organizers said they expected more than 500 motorcycles. Bell said he has no plans to fence the National War Memorial, but officers will be in and around the area.
Police have warned people to expect traffic delays in and around the no-go zone. Ottawa bylaws say they are ready to file a complaint to anyone who violates parking violations, motor vehicle noise, outdoor fires, waste and other violations.
Bell said people can expect a large police presence, including a “significant increase” in OPP and RCMP staff.
“We are very much alive to the concerns of the community and our need to be present on foot, easily accessible in our communities so that they know they are safe where they live,” Bell said.
Bell called the planned route the least intrusive way to get to and from the city, affecting the smallest number of residents.
“In an ideal world, we shouldn’t plan this at all. But we do it, “he said.
“Some coordination is important so that we can have a starting point, a transition and then, ultimately, what we all want, a starting point,” he added. “An unorganized, upset group of motorcycles in different groups wandering around the city would be a more problematic challenge for us.
Bell also reminded participants that they would be held accountable for their actions.
“We see a lot of conflicts online because of this event. A lot of people and groups behind keyboards away who want to cause discord. “I absolutely do not want to see this conflict on our streets,” he said. This is an open and peaceful city.
The organizer of the event this weekend promises a peaceful demonstration. Neil Sheard told Evan Solomon of the Newstalk 580 CFRA on Tuesday that the rally was aimed at “returning” the national war memorial after authorities erected a fence around it during the freedom convoy.
However, one of the speakers listed at Friday’s rally and march was a prominent figure in protests against COVID-19 mandates, which the Canadian Anti-Hate Network says has a history of fanatical commentary, including Holocaust denial.
Sheard said this man, Chris Skye, had “nothing to do with it.”
The RCMP joins the Ottawa police response
The Ottawa Police Board has granted more than 800 RCMP officers special police status to work in Ottawa during the Rolling Thunder event.
The service has sought approval for the appointment of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers with special police status, which provides law enforcement officers in the city.
The board approved up to 200 additional RCMP officers for the Rolling Thunder event, along with extending the special police status for 631 previously sworn officers in February 2022.
All 831 appointments are valid until July 4.
President Eli El-Chantiry and Vice-President Suzanne Valiquette received approval from the board to approve any additional requests for special police status in Ottawa.
A report on the board said the July 4 deadline was pending further events and demonstrations in Ottawa.
Appointments with a special police officer usually last five years.
With files from Josh Pringle of CTV News Ottawa
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