Toronto, February 9: With the country heading into two straight weeks of Freedom Convoy demonstrations, police attempted to strengthen their message with officers coming face-to-face with protesters in Alberta and issuing renewed warnings to those in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Police Service issued a notice to protesters, saying they may arrest those blocking streets in the Downtown core and seize vehicles.
Protesters and supporters of the Freedom Convoy have amassed in the city’s Downtown over the last 13 days, calling for an end to vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions.
The movement has made headlines around the world and sparked similar protests across Canada and in other countries.
Despite calls for them to leave and a temporary court injunction against the convoy’s excessive noise, demonstrators remain committed with one organizer saying that “morale on the ground” in Ottawa has not changed and truckers encamped are “upbeat.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said he spoke to Dilkens, as well as Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, and called for the “ongoing illegal occupation and blockade” to stop.
“The Ambassador Bridge is one of the most vital trade corridors in our country,” he said.
“The damage this is causing to our economy, to people’s jobs and their livelihoods is totally unacceptable. We cannot let this continue.”
Dozens of trade organizations have called for a “swift and immediate clearing” of the blockade, with Stellantis confirming it cut short the bulk of its shifts at its Windsor assembly plant Tuesday due to parts shortages, a move that affected thousands of workers. The facility resumed production again Wednesday morning.
Ongoing demonstrations in other communities have also prompted additional responses from police and governments.
Toronto police say they will close Queen’s Park Circle after social media posts claimed there would be a potential demonstration involving “a large number of vehicles.”
In a series of tweets, the Manitoba RCMP said it would not tolerate any blocking of roads or highways that lead to hospitals after a convoy delayed a man trying to drive his 82-year-old sister to an emergency department.
The New Brunswick government, meanwhile, announced it would amend its Emergency Act in order to ban the blocking of normal traffic flows on roads and highways. This comes amid a planned convoy in the provincial capital of Fredericton this weekend.
The move also would prohibit deliveries of fuel, food, drinks or other supplies to anyone attempting to interrupt traffic. Fines can range from $3,000 to $10,000 per offence and up to between $20,000 and $100,000 for corporations.
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