May Day demonstrations to cause traffic snarls downtown
Posted May 1, 2012 06:15:28 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – A May Day demonstration in downtown Ottawa is expected to create traffic chaos Tuesday morning.
The solidarity against austerity rally will see demonstrators gather at Confederation Park at 11:30 a.m. and will then march to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office for 12 p.m.
Three government worker unions, along with occupy Ottawa will be marching.
On the heels of almost 4, 000 job notices being handed out to federal civil servants, P-SAC will join CUPE and the Occupy movement in the rally. P-SAC head John Gordon told 1310News, the idea is to keep up the pressure on the federal government.
“We want to make sure that they don’t get away with closing things down quietly.”
The majority of the cuts came at Parks Canada, which could see an impact on the Rideau Canal, according to long-time lock operator Jack Norris.
“A prime example is thanksgiving weekend. If people come out for a picnic and there’s nobody there to tell them the story of the canal, the washrooms aren’t open and the grounds aren’t being maintained.”
The unions point out that the cuts will have a direct impact on smaller rural cities which see those jobs as critical to their economy.
Toronto will also see a May Day demonstration with a march at Toronto City Hall. Members of Occupy Toronto are also planning a march to an as-yet undisclosed “re-occupation” site, which they plan to take over for 24 hours. Organizers say they want to push for more public services and an end to corporate handouts.
A protest in front of the Chateau Laurier will add to the traffic congestion. Quebec students will be protesting in front of the hotel where Quebec Premier Jean Charest is taking part in a conference.
