KAWARTHA LAKES-The Ottawa Police service issued a warning to anyone wanting to take to the streets of Ottawa to protest today. It is illegal.
“You must leave the area now. Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in the blocking streets, are committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested. You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges.” said a press release from Ottawa Police.
Police also said anyone planning to head to Ottawa to protest is breaking the law.
“The Federal Emergencies Act allows for the regulation or prohibition of travel to, from or within any specified area. This means that anyone coming to Ottawa for the purpose of joining the ongoing demonstration is breaking the law. The act also provides police with a number of measures including the ability to seize vehicles that are part of this demonstration.”
Thousands of people have taken part in the protest against vaccine mandates in Ottawa since it began on January 29th. Some local residents were upset with the truckers constantly honking their horns. A judge issued an injunction against honking last week. There have been complaints of harassment and intimidation by some who attended the rallies but there has been no reports of widespread violence, looting or damage to buildings.
Meanwhile, inspired by the Freedom COnvoy in Canada people all over the world are taking to the streets to protest.
In France, hundreds gathered to set off towards Paris as part of the “freedom convoy” movement.
In the Australian capital, the “Convoy to Canberra” rally against mandatory vaccinations brought protesters from across the country. In New Zealand, more than 1,000 people driving cars and trucks from around the country converged on Parliament to protest against COVID mandates.
Read more here:https://globalnews.ca/news/8608477/freedom-convoy-worldwide-covid-protests/
In Canada, police say “charges and/or convictions related to unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the USA border”.
“We cannot and will not allow illegal, dangerous activities to continue.” said Prime Minister Trudeau.
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Monday. Something that was not done during the 2014 terrorist attack on Parliament which resulted in the death of a Canadian soldier or during the 9/11 attacks.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)says the Federal government has not met the threshold necessary to invoke the Emergencies Act.
Officials with the CCLA said the Emergency Act creates a high and clear standard for good reason: the Act allows government to bypass ordinary democratic processes.
“This standard has not been met,” said Noa Mendelsohn Aviv, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. “The Emergencies Act can only be invoked, according to its own terms, when a situation “seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada” and when the situation “cannot be effectively dealt with under any other law of Canada.”
Police say the new Ontario law (EMCPA) now prohibits interference with any critical infrastructure including 400-series highways, railways, airports and international border crossings. It prohibits you from preventing someone from travelling to or from walkways, bridges and highways (other than 400 series highways) or preventing anyone from using them.
“It also prohibits someone from seriously interfering with the safety, health or well-being of members of the public.”
