Province can provide Ottawa with additional operational resources: solicitor general

Ontario’s solicitor general has reiterated the province’s commitment to assisting the nation’s capital in maintaining law and order during the ongoing trucker convoy protests. 

Sylvia Jones issued a statement on Sunday, February 6, to address the protest in Ottawa and concerns raised by police.

“Officials from my ministry have been in contact with Ottawa officials throughout, and both the Premier (Doug Ford) and I have regularly reiterated the province’s commitment to support them with any additional operational resources they may need.”

Jones says more than 1,500 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers have been on the ground in Ottawa, as well as RCMP officers and officers from municipal police services across Ontario.

Ontario’s Solicitor General @SylviaJonesMPP releases statement on the convoy protest in Ottawa.
Stresses politicians don’t direct police and notes the province has reiterated to the city it will help with any additional operational resources the city needs #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/XlBxcMcItB

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 6, 2022

“I want to stress that policing protests is a responsibility carried out by local police services across Ontario, who have the resources and authority to ensure their communities remain safe,” reads the letter. “Politicians at all levels cannot direct the police.

“To be clear: police services, including the Ottawa Police Service, have full discretion and extensive existing legislative authority under the Criminal Code to respond to and manage demonstrations and take enforcement action, as appropriate, against any individuals committing crimes in their jurisdiction.”