14 Feb 2022 | 10:50 PM UTC
Canada: Trucker protests continue in Ottawa as of Feb. 14; federal government to enact Emergencies Act to deal with disruptions /update 6
Trucker protests continue in Ottawa, Ont., Canada, as of Feb. 14. Federal government to enact Emergencies Act to deal with disruptions.
Event
Truck drivers continue to hold protests in Ottawa, Ontario, as of Feb. 14, demanding that Canadian authorities rescind COVID-19-related restrictions and vaccine mandates. While some demonstrators have reportedly begun to move their vehicles from residential areas, protests in the downtown area are likely to continue, especially along Wellington Street and near the Parliament of Canada and the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council. Authorities in Ottawa are also likely to step up enforcement of certain bylaws violated by demonstrators over the coming days after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted the city's request for an injunction vis-a-vis the protests.
Additionally, the Canadian government is enacting the Emergencies Act to deal with the trucker protests in Ottawa and elsewhere across Canada. The measure allows the federal government to regulate or prohibit certain kinds of public assemblies, travel, and the use of certain properties. National officials have intimated that the decision was taken due to the demonstrations overwhelming some provincial governments' capacities to handle them.
A heightened police presence is likely across Ottawa in the coming days. Business and transport disruptions are also likely as security forces conduct operations. Confrontations between demonstrators and the police are possible; counterprotests have been reported and may continue as residents demand the reopening of the city's streets.
Context
Truckers arrived in central Ottawa Jan. 29 following a convoy protest and have caused significant disruptions, including blocking streets. Security officials have arrested multiple people in connection with the protests in recent days. Related protests have materialized at border crossings across Canada, including in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba.
Advice
Avoid all protests as a standard precaution and to mitigate delays. Heed the instructions of security personnel. Do not attempt to pass through roadblocks; wait for authorities to clear the road. Reconfirm appointments. Confirm the status of routes before traveling in impacted locations. Plan accordingly for possible freight trucking delays via Ottawa.
