Update on “Freedom Convoy” Occupation Resolution Efforts
For the past 11 days, Ottawans have had to endure significant disruption to their lives – to say nothing of vandalism, harassment and expressions of hate & violence. I spent the weekend, speaking with residents, and hearing firsthand the harm the current occupation is having on them and their families.
There have since been numerous reports shared online by residents since the protest started detailing instances where they say people associated with the convoy attacked or harassed them on the streets, and threatened them with violence for wearing masks. Death threats and threats of violence have been issued to politicians. This is unacceptable.
Women, especially women of colour, are afraid to venture outside alone and face harassment by protestors. Survivors of domestic violence are being retraumatized. Many of our community’s support services have had to close their doors out of fear. I have spoken openly in the House of Commons about the impact that this occupation has had on the most vulnerable members of our society. Watch my speech in the House here.
No matter how much these occupiers may hold themselves above public health measures, they are not above the law.
Below are the measures that have been taken thus far to quell this occupation:
Providing Additional RCMP Support for the Ottawa Police Service
The federal government is here to support the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service (the police of jurisdiction) however needed. We have responded with everything that has been asked of us, including authorizing the deployment of nearly 300 RCMP officers, tactical police troops, joint intelligence and operational teams, and community liaison teams.
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly stated today that, thanks to an influx of OPP and RCMP resources received over the weekend, officers can now go “on the offensive” to put an end to the occupation. Every single Ottawa police officer has been working the last four days.
Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Diane Deans have further requested 1,000 regular officers, 600 public order officers, 100 investigative officers, 100 civilian staff, and supporting resources (such as cyber investigative capacity, digital and social media forensics, and financial forensics). The RCMP remains in close contact with OPS, and stands ready to provide further assistance.
Pursuing Foreign Interference & Funding of Protests
Fundraising website GoFundMe announced Friday evening that it had removed the fundraiser set up for the “Freedom Convoy”, saying it violated the company’s terms of service. It stated that people who had donated would be refunded directly. Before the company paused the campaign, it had raised more than $10.1 million from more than 120,000 donors. $1 million of the money raised has been released to organizers.
The House of Commons committee on public safety and national security (SECU) has voted unanimously to call officials from the popular crowdfunding site GoFundMe to answer questions concerning their facilitation of funding for an illegal occupation. The motion, proposed by NDP MP Alistair MacGregor, calls on company officials to appear before SECU "as soon as possible."
The committee wants the company to answer questions about measures in place to "ensure the funds are not being used to promote extremism, white supremacy, anti-Semitism, and other forms of hate, which have been expressed among prominent organizers for the truck convoy currently in Ottawa."
The committee also wants the company to explain how it prevents anonymous donations and funding from out of country extremist groups, and what it's doing to ensure that the money already released to the protest is not being used to promote extremist views and activities.
An amendment proposed by Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed calls on officials from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) — Canada's money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog — to also appear before the committee.
Ottawa Police has also stated that they will be relentless in pursuing the funding that has enabled this demonstration to continue to this point.
Continued Ticketing & Law Enforcement
Ottawa ByLaw officers have issued more than 1,000 tickets to protesters since the demonstration began. 780 of those tickets were handed out this past weekend. Approximately 29 vehicles have been towed to date.
Ottawa Police have also begun cracking down on numerous offences, including threatening to arrest anyone bringing “material supports” — including gasoline refills — to the occupation convoy. Multiple vehicles and thousands of litres of fuel have been seized.
Ensuring Child and Youth Safety at Ottawa Demonstrations
Ottawa police officers are aware of concerns about child and youth attendance at the demonstration.
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS), in collaboration with The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO), will work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and youth at the current demonstration in the downtown core.
CASO continues to play its role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and youth in the community. The Society has a duty to investigate whenever there are allegations of abuse or neglect that suggest a child or youth may be in need of protection.
There have been ongoing reports to CASO regarding child welfare concerns amid the Ottawa protest. CASO considers all information received from the public to determine the best response.
Police Raid on Coventry Road Protest Encampment
Dozens of heavily armed police officers descended Sunday night on the Coventry Road baseball stadium parking lot that's been serving as a staging area for the protesters in the downtown core. Ottawa Police removed vehicles and at least one tanker of fuel. Ottawa Police later announced they had arrested two people at the site, with other arrests elsewhere that day linked to protest activity.
There is still believed to be more fuel and other supplies such as food stored at the parking lot, which volunteers have been shuttling to the protesters jamming the so-called "red zone" around Parliament Hill.
Ottawa Police announced last night that they would be stopping these deliveries. Protesters say they plan to continue to bring cans of fuel downtown.
10-Day Injunction Against Incessant Honking
Ontario Superior Court Justice Hugh McLean has granted a 10-day injunction to prevent protestors parked on city streets from honking their horns incessantly.
Justice McLean said the injunction is temporary because he needs to hear more evidence, but that he has heard enough to make this ruling. Paul Champ, a lawyer representing central Ottawa residents in a proposed multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuit, had argued the loud and prolonged honking is causing irreparable harm.
Declaration of a State of Emergency
On Sunday, Mayor Watson declared a state of emergency over the weekend, characterizing these demonstrations as "the most serious emergency our city has ever faced."
While the city's state of emergency gives the municipality few sweeping powers — it mostly makes it easier and faster for the municipality to buy supplies, including tow trucks — a provincial declaration of an emergency brings with it more powers.
Under the Ontario Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act, the province can, among other things, limit the movement of people within the city. For example, it could stop people who cannot prove they live or work in the "red zone" from walking in and out of the area.
Overcoming Jurisdictional Challenges
We need open lines of dialogue between all jurisdictions to resolve the ongoing occupation of Ottawa. Our trilateral table between federal, provincial, and municipal governments will overcome existing communication barriers and strengthen our response to the convoy.
I will continue to work with my colleagues at all three levels of government to do everything I can to reach a peaceful and speedy resolution to this terrible situation.
