Authorities in Ottawa are thanking businesses and residents for their patience during police and government efforts to end the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protest around Parliament Hill.Police are reassuring businesses in parts of the capital’s downtown core that they should feel safe to re-open after the occupation that lasted three weeks.Numbers from the city’s interim police chief last night included 191 arrests and charges laid against 107 of them since police began the clearing operation Friday morning.Nearly 100 vehicles have been towed from downtown Ottawa, including 20 last night from what police deemed an “unlawful assembly” on Coventry Road.
Authorities say that so far 191 people have been arrested, with 107 of them facing a total of 389 charges laid in connection with anti-government blockades in the city.
Charges laid so far include obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer.The Special Investigations Unit says preliminary information suggests a Toronto Police officer on horseback allegedly had an encounter with a 49-year-old woman resulting in an undisclosed, serious injury in Ottawa.They say they’re also looking into the use of anti-riot weapons, which they say were deployed by members of the Vancouver Police Department.
Members of Parliament continued debate Sunday on the motions tabled in the House of Commons about the powers contained in the Emergencies Act and the government’s invoking of the act itself.The powers within the Act took effect after it was introduced last Monday, but still must be voted on in the House and Senate.The House vote is scheduled for tonight.Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says the 30 days of new powers, which include establishing no-go zones and cutting off the supply of goods and money to protesters, were critical in helping end the occupation of downtown Ottawa.But Conservative MPs consider the Act heavy handed and unnecessary.
