The City of Ottawa determined its strategy a few days before a convoy of motorcyclists arrived scheduled for Friday and Saturday. A map of the motor vehicle exclusion zone has been announced. The goal: that “participants exercise their democratic right to hold a rally, demonstration or protest” with “respect for the community”.
Citizens who need to travel toward downtown Ottawa may be delayed in traffic due to the demonstration. To prevent vehicles from parking on downtown streets, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and the City have created an exclusion zone for motor vehicles participating in an assembly.
However, the roads remain open to residential and commercial traffic, as well as pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.
In a press release, the municipality indicated that fines will be imposed on anyone who does not respect its regulations, such as the ban on cause unnecessary noise from vehiclesng defecation and urination in public places outside and light fireworks.
Municipal agents will also scatter in the streets to ensure that residents and visitors follow parking rulesindicates the City. All vehicles that do not respect the no stopping zones will be ticketed and towed.
OC Transpo does not expect any changes to its services at this time.
The City of Ottawa will release updates on traffic impacts over the weekend through its website and social media channels. Its municipal parking at City Hall is closed from Thursday to Monday.
At a meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board on Monday, the acting chief of OPS Steve Bell assured elected officials that the police force now had all the resources necessary to ensure a peaceful demonstration. We are preparing for many events and different circumstances that may arise. Our plan is not one-dimensionalhammer of the police chief.
the OPS will also receive assistance from other police forces such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), as well as other municipal police forces.
Tuesday night, Catherine McKenney, representing the district Somerset, reacted to the City’s plan on Twitter. He believes the lessons were not learned from the convoy of truckers, while the perimeter of the exclusion of motor vehicles not protecting downtown residential areas. The elected official vowed to raise these criticisms at the city council meeting on Wednesday.
The Federal Minister of Public Security is confident
Federal Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino, was asked several times on Tuesday about the demonstration planned for the weekend. He said he was sensitive to the fears of Ottawa residents.
We trust law enforcement to uphold the law, uphold the right to peaceful protest, but we don’t want to see any kind of illegal occupation of Ottawa again.he said, indicating that it offers all the tools and resources needed for OPS.
Source: Radio-Canada
