Ottawa protest faces rising resident anger, uncertain finances in its 2nd week
CBC
Just over a week since the first vaccine mandate protesters rolled into Ottawa, ongoing demonstrations face financial uncertainty and increasing frustration from local residents — even as more protesters are expected to join the group this weekend.
The number of protesters in the downtown Ottawa area has fluctuated during the past week, from thousands in the city last weekend to about 250 by Tuesday, police said. But Ottawa police announced they expect potentially thousands more protesters to arrive this weekend.
Protesters have maintained a near-constant level of noise and disruption in the downtown core of the nation's capital, blocking traffic, honking horns, setting off fireworks and organizing loud music. Local officials and residents have spoken out about instances of harassment and intimidation by protesters.
Organizers are urging protesters to remain peaceful and have sought to maintain a festive and positive mood. The organizers have said they will stay in Ottawa until the federal government lifts all pandemic restrictions — even though most public health restrictions were introduced by the provinces.
But the protest in Ottawa is facing a series of challenges to its continued operation, including a beefed-up police response, unsteady financing and a class-action lawsuit.
Ottawa police have said they will be implementing a "surge and contain strategy" this weekend to restrict access to the downtown and reduce the impact of the protests.
"The demonstrators in the red zone area remain highly organized, well funded [and] extremely committed to resisting all attempts to end the demonstration safely," Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly said on Friday, adding there is no timeline for removing the trucks parked downtown.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that the protest had turned into an "occupation." That language was also used by Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, speaking in the House of Commons this week.
Candice Bergen, the interim Conservative leader, called on Friday for a "peaceful resolution to this impasse," saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needed to provide a plan for a resolution.
"Canadians and Conservatives have heard you loud and clear. Regardless of political stripe, we all want an end to the demonstrations and we all want an end to the restrictions," she said in a statement.
The protest has been fuelled in part by money raised through crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, topping $10 million by Friday.
Campaign organizers have received $1 million of the funds, but the rest was frozen mid-week. And on Friday, GoFundMe announced it would stop payments entirely, casting the protest's financing into doubt.
Organizers have said they would use the money from the fundraiser to pay for food, fuel and lodging for the protesters and enable them to stay in Ottawa.
GoFundMe will not disburse any more money from a fundraising campaign for the protest convoy, saying the money will be refunded or donated to charity. Meanwhile, Ottawa police are changing tactics ahead of what's expected to be another weekend of noisy protests. 2:40
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