Ottawa police shrink downtown secure zone, businesses re-open

It is the first normal start to a workweek in and around downtown Ottawa in nearly a month, after a weekend police operation cleared the convoy occupation out of the parliamentary precinct and nearby residential streets.

Ottawa police have shrunk the secure zone, moving its southern border from the Queensway up to Somerset Street West, between Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal. Checkpoints will remain in place only as long as necessary, police say, to ensure that unlawful protesters do not return.

Two unlawful protesters returned to the secure zone and have since been charged. Ottawa police say a Quebec man and a woman from southern Ontario were arrested separately on February 18 for mischief, but were released with no charges. Both people were arrested in the secure zone a second time, on February 19, police say, and both are charged with multiple offences including disobeying a lawful order, obstructing police and mischief.

Other convoy supporters have moved to just outside of the secure zone. A group of demonstrators has been waving signs and flags at the corner of Booth and Wellington streets, near the War Museum.

There are still some #freedomconvoy protesters in Ottawa. This group is holding a demonstration at the intersection of Booth & Wellington. One man had a sign saying “we’re not leaving” pic.twitter.com/NPmIuzceGS

— Élie Cantin-Nantel (@elie_mcn) February 21, 2022

Ottawa police said that as of 8 a.m. on Monday, February 21, officers had arrested 196 people and 110 of those had been charged.

Inside the secure zone, more businesses are opening their doors, and the ByWard Market is no longer blocked off by police.

Downtown Ottawa's largest shopping mall, the Rideau Centre, was set to re-open its doors, Tuesday, February 22, for the first time in nearly a month. The downtown occupation and a flood of unmasked shoppers forced the mall to close in late January.

Downtown-area schools are open as usual, Tuesday, and the O-Train resumed normal service on Line 1 through downtown Ottawa, on Family Day.

The Ottawa Public Library has re-opened its Rideau branch but the Main branch, at Laurier and Metcalfe, remains closed.