Ottawa police chief says he needs more officers to enforce new provincial powers
CTV
Ottawa's police chief warns he doesn't have enough police resources to enforce the new powers designed to end the truck convoy protest and blockade in downtown Ottawa.
"We cannot go beyond our current ability unless we get new resources," Chief Peter Sloly said during a special Ottawa Police Services Board meeting on Friday.
"New powers are new powers, without new resources we can't expand and use those powers in the way they were designed."
Premier Doug Ford announced new penalties to protect infrastructure, including roads and pedestrian sidewalks. Non-compliance will now be punishable by fines of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail.
The premier declared a state of emergency to give authorities more tools to stop what he called the "illegal occupation" of Ottawa on Day 15 of the demonstration on Wellington Street and several roads through the downtown core.
