Efforts to enforce Canada Day in Ottawa have included law enforcement officers who have delivered 275 parking tickets since 8 a.m. Thursday in the downtown area, as well as the towing of 72 vehicles. , as protesters against the mandate returned to the capital with few problems so far on Friday.
In a tweet, statute officials said the trailer occurred inside the downtown vehicle exclusion zone.
We are certainly better prepared and more police officers from different jurisdictions will come to help this weekend.- Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
The area is similar to the one established in late April for the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally, and covers much of the city center. Inside, parking on the street is not allowed and protest vehicles are not allowed to enter until at least 6 a.m. Monday.
The area expanded west along Albert Street to Bayview Station and east to ByWard Market for Canada Day.
On Thursday evening, four people were arrested near the National War Memorial.
As of 8 a.m. on June 29, officers have issued 275 parking tickets and towed 72 vehicles located in the vehicle control area for Canada Day events and demonstrations this weekend. < a href="https://t.co/aj94k0QbQH">pic.twitter.com/aj94k0QbQH
– @OttawaBylaw
The Ottawa Police Service said it is investigating the incident, including reviewing the video.
His initial investigations found that an interaction with an agent turned into confrontation and an agent was drowned, the service tweeted. Police have not clarified whether the incident involved one or two officers.
Despite the arrests, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said enforcement efforts appear to be “working relatively well,” especially compared to weeks-long occupation of downtown streets earlier this year. year.
“I think we’re definitely better prepared and more police officers from different jurisdictions will come to help this weekend,” Watson said at a Canada Day event Friday morning.
“It’s always a great day in Ottawa if Canada Day is celebrated. We wanted to make sure people came here and had a nice, safe and fun experience.”
A man dressed in dozens of Canadian flags walks down Sparks Street in Ottawa on July 1, 2022. (Catherine Morasse / Radio-Canada)
‘Minimal’ police activity, says the mayor
Later that day, Watson said police told him there was “minimal activity” that required officer involvement.
Organizers had planned to hold a “music concert of freedom” with entertainers who became popular during the Freedom Convoy to perform on a stage that was set up in front of Parliament Hill on Wellington Street.
Protesters had also planned to march to Parliament Hill on Friday and hold a dance party.
As was the case during the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally in April, many of Canada Day events are coordinated by Veterans 4 Freedom (V4F), a group of central figures involved in the Freedom Convoy winter protests. for weeks.
Organizers had also planned an “old-fashioned family picnic” in Strathcona Park on Friday morning, but the event was canceled.