Police have begun to make arrests in Ottawa’s downtown core as the operation to end the three-week occupation ramps up Friday morning, while two key convoy organizers are set to appear in court.
Ottawa police announced a large police presence on Nicholas Street in the city’s core just after 8 a.m. ET while some protesters were seen surrendering and taken into custody. Police then issued another warning about two hours later urging demonstrators to leave or face arrest.
DEMONSTRATORS: You must leave. You must cease further unlawful activity and immediately remove your vehicle and/or property from all unlawful protest sites. Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested. <a href=”https://t.co/txDattNRE4″>pic.twitter.com/txDattNRE4</a>
—@OttawaPolice
Downtown residents reported seeing more police officers in the area and for police, protesters and much of the public, Friday sets up to be a day of tension and confrontation.
About 15 police vans were seen parked at the intersection of Rideau and Nicholas streets around 8:30 a.m. delivering dozens of officers to the downtown streets. At the same time, a number of protesters seemed to be settling in for the day with small tents and fires to stay warm.
Building a snow barrier in front of Parliament <a href=”https://t.co/SJuaizXlVh”>pic.twitter.com/SJuaizXlVh</a>
—@iamSas
Ottawa resident Jean DuPont was one of those lighting a fire along Wellington Street and he expressed little concern about being arrested, despite the fate of fellow protesters just down the street.
DuPont, who calls himself a former trucker, said he doesn’t condone violence and he just wanted to “keep the spirit alive” for the convoy protest, while he supported Canada as “a free country.”
Secure perimeter limits access to downtown core
The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa said Friday it was working with police to keep children in the downtown core safe and, as of 9:15 a.m., confirmed no children had been transferred to its care.
Police also issued a warning to all media in the area of the operation to ensure no journalists are taken into custody.
All media who are attending the area, please keep a distance and stay out of police operations for your safety. Anyone found within areas undergoing enforcement may be subject to arrest. There will be a media availability later today at 474 Elgin Street. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#ottnews</a>
—@OttawaPolice
On Thursday night, police closed more streets and restricted traffic in an effort to keep more protesters from entering the downtown core. Those closures choked off-ramps leading from Highway 417 into the city’s downtown with exits closed from St. Laurent Boulevard to Parkdale Avenue.
Police also established some 100 checkpoints in the hours following a warning from interim police Chief Steve Bell that “action is imminent.”
Emergencies Act debate suspended
A winter storm warning and significant overnight snowfall also created hazardous winter conditions Friday morning, further adding complications and delays to travel.
Ottawa’s light rail service was disrupted due to the downtown lockdown, too, and the Parliament Hill station remains closed.
The House of Commons cancelled its Friday sitting due to expected police action on Wellington Street and other parts of downtown, temporarily suspending the debate on the use of the Emergencies Act.
According to the Speaker’s office, all parties agreed to cancel Friday’s sittings on the advice of parliamentary security. Parliamentarians remain hopeful they will be able resume debate on Saturday.
2 key convoy organizers appear in court Friday
Before the larger set of arrests began, police arrested key convoy organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich on Thursday.
Barber, a 46-year-old from Swift Current, Sask., is expected to appear in court on Friday to face charges of counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.
Lich, a 49-year-old from Medicine Hat, Alta., was charged with counselling to commit the offence of mischief. She is also scheduled to appear in court Friday.
