Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Police renew warning to Ottawa demonstrators

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Feb, 2022 10:54 AM
  • Police renew warning to Ottawa demonstrators

OTTAWA - Police renewed warnings to downtown Ottawa protesters to get out of the parliamentary precinct Wednesday, this time with the federal Emergencies Act in their arsenal. 

Officers walked along Wellington Street handing out notices to protesters encamped there, telling them they "must leave the area now."

 It's not the first time police have issued such a warning, but it is the first time since the federal government invoked legislation that gives police new powers to take the situation in hand. 

The bulletin says anyone blocking streets or helping others to block streets is breaking the law and could be arrested. It also warned the Emergencies Act gives police the power to seize vehicles that are part of the demonstration and ban people from travelling within a certain area. 

"This means that anyone coming to Ottawa for the purpose of joining the ongoing demonstration is breaking the law," the notice states. 

Members of the blockade that has kept the capital at a standstill for nearly three full weeks have called the invocation of the Emergencies Act a scare tactic. 

Trucks, RVs and other vehicles with Canadian flags or banners with the word "freedom'' in giant letters along their front grilles remain on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, with drivers saying they will stay put until all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions are lifted.

 Jason McDonald, who manages the stage at the demonstration outside Parliament, is among the protesters who say they have consulted lawyers on what to do if the police move in to arrest them. 

The business owner and demonstrator said the Emergencies Act “doesn’t bother us” and questioned whether the police would move in. 

While the protest continued unabated outside Parliament Hill Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked inside of the West Block whether force would be needed to rid downtown of the demonstrators.

 Trudeau said that is not his decision to make, but the Emergencies Act and additional police resources would "make sure that laws are enforced in a proportional way, in an approach that will be decided by the police of jurisdiction."

 Blockades are not allowed on Parliament Hill and surrounding streets, official residences, war monuments, airports, harbours, border crossings, piers, lighthouses, canals, interprovincial and international bridges, hospitals and COVID-19 vaccine clinics, trade corridors and infrastructure needed for the supply of utilities including power generation and transmission.

 Trudeau invoked the act on Monday for the first time in Canadian history, with details of the regulations contained in cabinet orders published Tuesday night.

 The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa urged parents demonstrating downtown to make arrangements for the care of their children should they become unable to care for their kids after potential police action. 

Under the act, bringing children to the antigovernment blockades, participating in the protests directly or bringing aid such as food or fuel to those involved could result in a fine of up to $5,000 or five years in prison.

 Ottawa police warned several times over the last few days of the 100 or so children living in the trucks parked outside of Parliament Hill. They called in the Children's Aid Society to check on them, but also explained the kids are a complicating factor when it comes to planning a potential operation. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak
Distributed Denial of Secrets, which has a history of obtaining leaked information from right-wing organizations and providing it to media, says it has received over 30 megabytes of donor information from Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo.

Canadians donated most to convoy: alleged leak

Police doing their job in B.C. protests: minister

Police doing their job in B.C. protests: minister
Mike Farnworth also said the province supports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in using the Emergencies Act to deal with protests that are holding other parts of the country "economic hostage."

Police doing their job in B.C. protests: minister

2,701 COVID19 cases over 3 days

2,701 COVID19 cases over 3 days
In addition, 93.1% (4,315,735) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 90.5% (4,193,878) received their second dose and 52.7% (2,443,314) have received a third dose.

2,701 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Suspect Arrested in a Series of Stranger Assaults on Transit

Suspect Arrested in a Series of Stranger Assaults on Transit
In all incidents, the suspect and victim were not known to each other, and there was no interaction between the two prior to the alleged assaults. The Metro Vancouver Transit Police General Investigation Unit linked this series of assaults to one suspect.

Suspect Arrested in a Series of Stranger Assaults on Transit

​​​ICBC set to launch online insurance renewals

​​​ICBC set to launch online insurance renewals
Eligible ICBC customers renewing policies effective on or after May 1, 2022, will have the option to renew their policy using their computer, tablet or mobile device.

​​​ICBC set to launch online insurance renewals

Emergency law could freeze travel near Parliament

Emergency law could freeze travel near Parliament
Security expert Wesley Wark says declaring a public order emergency under the never-used law would give the government power to control streets near the Hill now jammed with vehicles.

Emergency law could freeze travel near Parliament