'I don't like when they put more pressure on us for having this basic freedom'
No convoy repeat in Ottawa as anniversary nears, police chief reaffirms
'If someone attempts a vehicle-based protest then we will take action to dismantle it fairly quickly'
Chief Eric Stubbs reiterated the Ottawa Police Service's position that no vehicle-based protests will be allowed in the city as the first anniversary of the Freedom Convoy demonstrations that clogged the downtown approaches.
Speaking to reporters before a police services board meeting, Stubbs said Ottawa police have been monitoring and working with intelligence sources and talking to protest organizers, but wouldn't divulge any specifics of what they've heard in terms of the potential size of any demonstration.
He said police have a "scalable" plan prepared so they can respond depending on the number of protestors that do arrive in the city.
"Our goal is not to have a vehicle-based protest, and if someone attempts a vehicle-based protest then we will take action to dismantle it fairly quickly," Stubbs said.
He also said he supports the idea of reopening Wellington Street, but that the security needs of the downtown core as a whole need to be reassessed by the agencies that are responsible for keeping them safe.
"Wellington Street is a piece of that, and I would prefer that all the issues are looked at in their totality," Stubbs said.
Pedestrians on Wellington want barricades to stay, others say scrap 'em
Tourists, locals says the area feels peaceful without vehicles on the street
"I've enjoyed wandering quite safely with no cars out on the roads," said Craig, who was visiting the nation's capital from St. Catharines, Ont.
Barricades have kept vehicles off the street in front of Parliament Hill ever since police cleared out the last of the Freedom Convoy protesters in February 2022.
But in a few days, city council's transportation committee will discuss whether to remove the barricades and reopen the area to vehicles.
"I understand people [who] live here might have a different perspective," Craig said. "But it's made it quite enjoyable."
Thursday's meeting will come after some MPs recently recommended the federal government take over ownership of Wellington.
"I don't like the way it looks right now — it's a reminder of the convoy," Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said of the barricades last week, adding that he's eager to hash out a long-term plan for Wellington with the federal government.
But several pedestrians who spoke to CBC Ottawa Saturday say they're all for keeping motorized vehicles off Wellington.
A place of 'tranquillity'
"I just love the calmness, especially on my commute to work [in Gatineau] in the mornings," said Mohsin Bhujwalla, who also cycles on the road.
"It's lovely to have that tranquillity and be able to not be distracted by noise pollution and fumes."
Local runner Christiane Lalonde agreed the barriers should stay.
"It would maybe hopefully attract people and turn this street into a more high-[foot]-traffic area and bring a bit of life to the city."
Barricades like this one have been installed at various intersections along Wellington Street for nearly a year now. (Guy Quenneville/CBC)
Police have 'learned their lesson'
Paul Champ, the lawyer representing downtown residents in their class-action lawsuit against convoy participants, agreed with Sutcliffe that if the goal is to prevent another large-scale protest, the barricades are no longer needed.
"I'm not worried in the least about ... trucks possibly trying to come back," he said.
"I think police have learned their lesson, and all the public authorities have learned their lesson — as well as the protesters themselves."
CBC asked the Ottawa Police Service on Saturday if they are planning any security measures around the area as the one-year anniversary of the protest nears but did not immediately hear back.
Business group worried
Kevin McHale, the executive director of the Sparks Street Business Improvement Area, said he also wants the barriers gone.
Like Champ, McHale said he's confident the police would quash any copycat convoys. He pointed to how officers handled disruptions during last spring's Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally.
Officers didn't use barricades but tactical teams moved in swiftly and quickly used tow trucks to remove prohibited vehicles.
"The techniques are there in order to make sure it doesn't happen again," McHale said.
As for Wellington Street's future, McHale said he's worried about the impact on downtown traffic flow and tourism should vehicles be banned from the area for good.
"What we saw this summer was a very empty, barren space that ended up just being occupied by a few lone protesters of all kinds of different causes and government vehicles racing back and forth," he said.
A
person walks along Wellington Street last February. The street next to
Parliament Hill has been closed to motorized vehicles since convoy
protesters were cleared away in the winter of 2022, and city councillors
will discuss the status of the barricades later this week. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Ayesha Madura, who was also out on Wellington Saturday, was mixed on the issue.
She said it's easier to ride her bike to work, but conceded driving into Ottawa from Gatineau has become "tricky" now that motorists can't ride through Wellington.
"Rather than going straight to the ByWard Market, I have to loop around," she said. "Which is kind of inconvenient."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
with files from Joanne Chianello
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