Montreal: The protest of a truck driver ongoing in the Canadian capital is now “really out of control,” said Mayor Ottawa on Sunday when the city center remained blocked by opponents of anti-covid steps.
The protesters, who first reached the capital on January 29, had parked their large rigs on the streets of the city and installed tents and temporary huts – paralyzing the capital to the concerns of officials and frustration mounted many residents.
“The situation at this point is completely uncontrolled,” said Mayor Jim Watson to the local radio station, adding that the protesters “have more people than we have police officers.” “Obviously, we lost the number and we lost this battle,” he told CFRA Radio.
“This must be reversed; we have to go back to our city.” Watson calls trucks “not sensitive,” because they continue to “blaring horns and sirens and fireworks, and turning them into a party.” The demonstration began in protest by truck drivers who were angry with vaccine requirements when crossing the US-Canadian border, but had turned out to be a broader protest against the restrictions on Covid-19 health and the Government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Local residents have complained about the sound of air barriers that are unrelenting and harassed, insulted or blocked by demonstrators.
However, the driver of the truck and their supporters had explored, said protests would continue until the restrictions related to Covid were appointed.
Similar to the smaller demonstration about the city of Toronto, Quebec and Winnipeg on Saturday.
Police in Quebec said about 30 large trucks blocked large arteries and had been warned they would face a fine if they did not move immediately.
In a Saturday emergency meeting with Ottawa officials, Peter Sloly police chief complained that he had no resources to end what he called “siege,” and asked for reinforcements.
Watson, in his interview, said 60 Royal Canadian police officers were installed have been sworn on Saturday to help manage protests, and more will be added in a few days.
“This group is a threat to our democracy,” said City Board Member Diane Deans Saturday.
“What we see is greater than just a matter of Ottawa, this is a national rebellion.
It’s crazy.” The police said on Sunday that they had spent around 450 tickets since Saturday morning, for a variety of small violations including excessive noise and the use of fireworks, even though one truck was stolen confiscated.
They said “very disturbing” the protesters in some cases endangered by public safety, causing “unacceptable troubles” to the local population.
The police have opened 97 investigations on the possibility of a criminal act, the statement said.
In addition, he said, the police “actively worked with Canadian, US and international security institutions / authorities to investigate email-based threats to public officials.”