Covid-19: Anti-mandate protests erupt in a number of Canadian cities
Key Takeaways:
- On Saturday, the unrest spread across the country, with demonstrations in several major cities, including Toronto.
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who has attacked the protests, has yet to return to the city after being moved to an undisclosed location a week ago, before the convoy arrived in the capital.
On Saturday, the agitation spread across the country, with demonstrations in multiple major cities, including Toronto, as protesting truckers continued to occupy the Canadian capital of Ottawa.
The so-called Freedom Convoy appears to have no intention of leaving Ottawa. On Saturday, Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly informed the city's police services board that the situation was "a siege" and that it was "unlike anything I've ever seen in our democracy."
According to an Ottawa Police Service statement, over 50 criminal offenses related to the protests are being investigated, 11 of which are hate crimes for which four people have been charged. According to the report, seven people have been arrested, and 70 traffic tickets have been issued.
It said it continues to "implement a surge and contain strategy" with its partners. It was bolstered when 257 additional Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) personnel were brought in to "assist with demonstration enforcement."
After being moved to an undisclosed location a week ago, before the convoy arrived in the capital, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has attacked the protests, has yet to return to the city. Trudeau has been placed in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. The prime minister's office still lists his residence in the National Capital Region.
As the protestors refused to leave Ottawa on Saturday, others stood in solidarity in several other cities. A large crowd gathered near the Ontario legislature in Toronto, with protests also taking place in Quebec City, Regina, Saskatchewan's capital, Vancouver, Alberta's capital, and other cities.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital, local law enforcement declared that a 42-year-old man was "facing charges after driving thru a group of protesters who were part of the Freedom Convoy at the Legislative grounds."