‘Freedom Convoy’ anniversary may draw 500 people to Parliament Hill, security warns
Global News
Any attempts to block roadways near Parliament Hill akin to what happened in the 'Freedom Convoy' last year will face 'swift and immediate' action, Ottawa police say.
The Parliamentary Protective Service said Friday it expects around 500 people to gather this weekend on Parliament Hill to mark one year since the so-called “Freedom Convoy” rolled into downtown Ottawa.
The PPS, which provides security for the parliamentary precinct, said it will curtail some access to Parliament Hill over the weekend as a precaution. The public can still use the central and east gates to access the lawns of Parliament Hill, but not the gates closest to the West Block, which is home to the House of Commons while Centre Block is undergoing renovations.
Public tours have been cancelled and Ottawa police have said the force will be enforcing the ongoing closure of Wellington Street to vehicle traffic.
Ottawa police said, “illegal activity or obstructing or impeding the flow of traffic with vehicles on any roadway will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and immediate action.”
The demonstration that began on Jan. 28, 2022, saw thousands of protesters with large vehicles parked en mass in Ottawa’s downtown, honking loud horns day and night.
The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 – for the first time in Canada’s history – in response to border blockades and demonstrations across the country. The Act let the federal government extend special powers to police and financial institutions, including freezing bank accounts associated with the participants and organizers, until it was revoked a week later.
Large trucks occupied Wellington Street, which runs adjacent to Parliament Hill, for weeks during that demonstration, and were only removed after the Emergencies Act was invoked.
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