The protest movement against health measures in Canada now brings together the most “determined” demonstrators, warned the Ottawa police on Wednesday, who do not rule out that a call to the army is necessary to put an end to it. Since this Saturday, the Canadian capital has been the scene of a large protest movement, first initiated by truckers opposing the obligation to vaccinate to cross the land border between Canada and the United States.
But many supporters, who oppose health restrictions more broadly to fight Covid-19 as a whole, converged on Ottawa this weekend to support the truck drivers. At the height of the protest on Saturday, thousands of trucks blocked city streets and up to 15,000 people marched on Parliament Hill. The few hundred still on the spot refuse to free the streets despite repeated requests from elected officials and the population.
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“Despite our efforts, many of them have no intention of dialogue, let alone negotiate,” Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said Wednesday, saying “all options” are being considered to put an end to the mobilization. To do this, the official mentioned possible military aid, an option however which “would come with enormous risks”, he specified. Police, who have made three arrests and are carrying out several criminal investigations, expect more protesters to join the movement as the weekend approaches. “Most of the protesters are gone, those who remain are a very determined and unstable group of individuals who break the law,” said acting deputy chief Trish Ferguson.