Update on Ottawa Demonstrations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, July 23, 2022  9:45 pm

(Ottawa)— The Ottawa Police Service and its City and policing partners took multiple measures with protests and convoys in the Ottawa area today.

To effectively allocate resources across the city, officers were deployed into the downtown core and surrounding areas to:

• Minimize disruption to residents, businesses and visitors
• Monitor convoy movements
• Temporarily close Hwy 417 off-ramps to deter vehicle-based demonstrators from entering the downtown core
• Engage with demonstrators
• Enforce the vehicle exclusion zone
• Remind demonstrators of Highway Traffic Act information
• Communicate with the public and demonstrators
• Manage a demonstration and snake march through the downtown core with rolling road closures to ensure public safety

When an uncooperative and large group of vehicles attempted to enter the downtown core, caused disruption to the regular flow of traffic in various parts of the city and refused to leave. As a result, one arrest was made, and Obstruct, and Public Mischief charges were laid.

In total, 103 tickets were issued, and 12 vehicles were towed.

It remained a fluid and dynamic situation throughout the day, and we thank the public for their patience during these disruptions.

These types of activities take a significant amount of policing and municipal resources, impacting our residents, local businesses and visitors.

We wish to thank our partners, including the City of Ottawa Traffic Management Services and Bylaw and Regulatory Services, Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Paramedic Services, Ontario Provincial Police, and the Ministry of Transportation.

We discourage the use of vehicles for any form of demonstration or causing significant disruptions to allow us to serve our community.

We encourage people and groups to exercise their Charter Rights in a legal, peaceful manner, considerate of the rights and freedoms of others.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

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