Ottawa, February 23: The ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests that took over downtown Ottawa streets for three weeks cost the city about $30 million, city council heard Wednesday.
“We don’t have an exact cost of what we’ve spent so far on the protest, but we anticipate the cost will be close to $30 million,” city manager Steve Kanellakos told councillors. “We will be seeking funding from the federal and provincial governments.”
Kanellakos said the city should have exact figures sometime next week. He also said police are tracking all protesters and encampments outside the city, and that one that had previously been set up in Greely has been dismantled.
“Police are prepared, as is the city, to respond to any attempt to reconvene the protests or to enter the city again,” he said. However, he said, the city doesn’t have any information at this point that’s going to happen.
Kanellakos also told council that the local state of emergency will remain in effect until the upper levels of government end theirs. Emergency and protective services manager Kim Ayotte told council that the fines for bylaw infractions, which were increased to $1000 during the occupation, will return to their previous values when the state of emergency is lifted.
Mayor Jim Watson told council he believes the worst is over.
“Although we remain vigilant, the worst, I believe, is behind us,” he said. “Now begins the difficult work of healing from that crisis.”
