Toronto, February 5: “Freedom Convoy” protesters are settling in for a long haul in downtown Ottawa, building a permanent structure and stocking up on gasoline and propane.
Being described on social media as a community kitchen, a fenced area containing dozens of fuel canisters and propane tanks being stored is being reported on-ground.
Protesters at Confederation park, right across from City Hall and beside the NAC and Rideaul Canal, appear to be building some type of wooden structure. They’ve also collected a stockpile of propane tanks and diesel fuel. @CTVNews pic.twitter.com/GSfleHFhaC
— Annie Bergeron-Oliver (@AnnieClaireBO) February 3, 2022
Confederation Park, next to the Rideau Canal Skateway, is National Capital Commission property. The park at the corner of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue is five blocks from Parliament Hill, where hundreds of people have been protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures since last Friday.
“The NCC is aware of this situation,” the NCC said in a statement on Twitter. “We are working with Ottawa Police to seek assistance on securing the site. We can confirm that the canisters have been removed from the site.”