Police in Ottawa brace for third day of confrontation with protesters

The streets of Ottawa’s downtown core were almost empty Sunday morning, but police are bracing for a third day of confrontation with protesters, continuing the largest police operation in the country’s history.

Officers said a police presence will remain in place and they are using fences to ensure the ground gained back is not lost.

Police also warned that nobody could travel in the “secured area,” which is a large portion of the downtown core from Bronson Avenue to Wellington Street and across to Queen Elizabeth Driveaway.

Police said two people were arrested Sunday morning for travelling to that area without a “proof of exclusion.”

Police also warned that snow-covered vehicles and those parked between Metcalfe Street and Bay Street, and Albert Street and Gloucester Street would be removed.

We continue to maintain a police presence in and around the area the unlawful protest occupied. We are using fences to ensure the ground gained back is not lost. pic.twitter.com/DHhzyEYJKP

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 20, 2022

Police say 47 more people were arrested on Saturday, bringing the total to 170 since Thursday, and 38 vehicles have been towed since Friday.

Officers have cleared the street that runs in front of Parliament after demonstrators occupied the area for more than three weeks, protesting COVID-19 mandates.

Steve Bell, Ottawa’s interim police chief, says officers had little choice but to use greater force in the face of demonstrators who ignored repeated warnings to clear the area.

Ottawa police are reiterating warnings to demonstrators Sunday morning, “If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges.”

Bell said moving forward, and for officer safety, police will be wearing helmets and wielding batons after facing what he describes as a barrage of resistance from protesters refusing to heed repeated requests to leave the area.

On Saturday night, Tom Marazzo, with the Ottawa protest, said truckers were prepared to leave if police would remove barriers that would allow them to refuel their vehicles.

Marazzo also insisted protesters have been peaceful and accused police of violent conduct.

On Tuesday, an Ottawa judge is set to decide whether to grant bail to one of the protest organizers, Tamara Lich.

Lich was charged with counselling to commit mischief in connection with the demonstrations in the capital.

She appeared in court on Saturday, and told Justice Julie Bourgeois she just wants to return to Alberta to be with her family, pledged a $5,000 bond, and promised to leave Ottawa by vehicle. Lich said she does not have the required vaccine passport to allow her to fly and her bank accounts are now frozen.

Patrick King, another prominent organizer from Alberta, is expected to appear at a bail hearing early next week after he was arrested by police on Friday.

Bourgeois released another protest organizer on Friday, Chris Barber, on a $100,000 bond and conditions he leave Ontario by Wednesday and not publicly endorse the convoy or contact other protest organizers.