Ottawa mayor would like protesters to move on, but organizers say they're not going anywhere

The mayor of Ottawa says many residents have reacheda boiling point over the rowdyprotests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public health restrictions, and he wants demonstrators to let the city return to normal. But organizers say they're willing to stay in the capital for months until their demands are met.

On Sunday, Ottawa's city centre was stillfilled with the sound of honking and cheeringas thousands of truckers and othersopposed to the restrictions gathered near Parliament Hillfor a second full day of protests.

While crowds began to thin outSunday evening, much of downtown Ottawa remainedclogged by parked vehicles. A large police presence waspatrolling the area.

Mayor Jim Watsonsaid the protests have bled into residential areas, disrupting life for the city.

"Quite frankly, [residents]feel they're prisoners in their own home. And so my hope is that at some point, the police reach the conclusion that it's time to have a serious discussion about moving these people on. They can't keep blocking routes that are emergency routes, that are bus routes, that allow people to get in and out of the downtown core,"he told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton onRosemary Barton Liveon Sunday.

"You have the right to protest, you've had your protest, please move on. Our city has to get back innormal stead."

The protest was initiallyfocused on the federal government's vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, but it has expanded into a larger movement against broader public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Aside from honking and yelling, police say the protestshave been mainlypeaceful with just one arrest by Sunday afternoon.

"That was to make sure that a situation that could have evolved into a violent situation was alleviated," Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly said in an interview.

Organizers have repeatedly urged protestersto be peaceful and avoid aggressive behaviour, threats and trespassing.

However, the loud and disruptive protests on Saturday featured several incidents roundly condemned as disrespectful, including protesters jumping on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldierand adorning a statue of Terry Fox with anti-vaccine material and an upside down Canadian flag.

Criminal investigations underway, police say

Ottawa police say there are several criminal investigationsunderway relating to thoseincidents and others.

"The investigations we're doing have everything to do with public mischief, threatening, dangerous driving, a dangerous operation [of a] vehicle. We have one report of a potential bribe involving a member of the public trying to bribe an employee of the city," Sloly said.

The Shepherds of Good Hope homelessshelter, located just a few blocks from Parliament Hill,reported that a service userand a security guardwere assaulted and its staff were harassed by protesters pressuringthem to provide meals over the last 24 hours.

Ottawa police said in a statement Sunday night that they have avoided ticketing and towing vehicles so as not to "instigate confrontations with demonstrators."

"Still, confrontations and the need for de-escalation has regularly been required," reads the statement.

WATCH |An on-the-ground look at the Parliament Hill protests:

An on-the-ground look at the Parliament Hill protests

3 years ago

Duration 1:26

CBC's David Common provides an update on the state of protests in Ottawa on Saturday as thousands called for an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions.

Some of the protesters carried Canadian flags, while others held placards that urged people to "Think for Yourself," a slogan used in anti-vaccine circles. Some demonstrators were seen flying the Patriotes flag, a nod to the Lower Canada rebellions of 1837-38, when French-speaking settlers from present-day Quebec fought against British colonial rule.

At least one Confederate flag was spotted in the crowd, a holdover from the U.S. Civil War that is often associated with racist and far-right elements. Indigenous demonstrators flew the Mohawk warrior flag and waved the flag of the Mtis Nation.

B.J. Dichter,one of the organizers behind aGoFundMe page thathas amassed more than $8 million to support the convoy, said the goal is to create a "logistics nightmare" for the government and force itto repealvaccine mandates.

"Right now, yeah, it's really cold, but we hang in there, the days are going to get longer and we take this block party and put it into overdrive," he saidat a gathering at an undisclosed location withinvited media representatives which Dichter described as "independent." The organizers said they had "banned" mainstream media outlets such as the CBC and Toronto Star.

"We're in this one for the long haul. We don't have a time limit."

Dichter onceran as a candidate for the Conservatives in Jack Layton's old riding of TorontoDanforth in the 2015 federal election, finishingthird behind the Liberals and New Democratswith just over 5,000 votes.

In 2019, Dichterspoke at the first People's Party of Canada conference held in Gatineau, Que., where he railed against "political Islam"and argued that the radical left in Canada is working with Islamic groups to undermine the Canadian state.

On Twitter, he regularly criticizespublic health measures to fight COVID-19, major media organizations, socialism and established political parties.

Policeworking to get some protesters out

Ottawa's police chiefsaid the force is workingto getprotesters who want to leave out of the traffic congestion.

"The communication and negotiation is focused on the vast majorityof people understanding that the demonstration is over and choosing to exit the city and go back to their homes assafely as possible," Slolysaid.

"For those who choose to remain, we'll make that assessmentonce we understand who is still here, what purposes and what public safety risks are associated to that."

WATCH |Protest convoy highlights 'power of misinformation,' expert says

Protest convoy highlights 'power of misinformation,' expert says

3 years ago

Duration 7:38

Timothy Caulfield, a law professor at the University of Alberta and Canada Research Chair in Health, Law and Policy, says while the protest in Ottawa may have had its roots in people's frustrations with pandemic restrictions, it highlights the power of misinformation.

Sloly said there will continue to be a large police presence on Sunday night into the morning, and police would take action if there's an "unreasonable risk."

"And we will see what tomorrow brings and we'll do our risk assessment then," he said.

A statement from the Ottawa police said it estimates policing the protest is costing around$800,000 a day.

House of Commons set to resume sitting

Uncertainty around the protest's duration comes as the House of Commons is set to resume sitting on Monday following the holiday break.

Government House leader MarkHolland said Parliamentwill sit as planned.

"We have important work to accomplish for Canadians in Parliament, and we're looking forward to getting this done and delivering results," said a statement from his office.

"We've already passed a motion that gives MPs the flexibility to work in a Hybrid House in this sitting which remains in effect until June. Some MPs will be in the chamber on Monday and beyond, and others will participate virtually."

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the federal government stands by its vaccination rule for cross-border truckers and still plans to move forward bringing in regulations to make vaccination mandatory for federally regulated industries, which would include inter-provincial truck drivers.

"So there is ongoing work as of right now. That policy is not in place, but no one should be surprised that there's work happening to get us there," he said Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live.

"The government's job is to always listen to all points of viewand take them into account. I also want to say that I am relieved that the protest so far has been peaceful, and I hope that if the protest continues, that it continues to remain peaceful and respectful although it's debated whether it's been respectful or not."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family were not at their home in Rideau Cottage over the weekend, and his office did not discuss his whereabouts for security reasons.