Canada’s police approve request for more officers in protest-ridden Ottawa

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According to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Canada's federal police have approved the City of Ottawa's request for additional officers to quell the anti-government protest that has engulfed the nation's capital for over a week.

"I can confirm that the [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] RCMP has received and approved a request for additional officers," Mendicino said during an emergency debate on the situation on Monday.

Over 275 officers are already available to the Ottawa Police Service, according to Mendicino. The city of Ottawa's municipal police, who have been chastised for their handling of the protest, is backed up by 1,500 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers, with a daily average of 135 to 200 officers.

Protesters are being asked to leave Ottawa by federal, provincial, and local officials, who are increasingly calling on Ottawa police to step up enforcement efforts. Earlier in the day, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency in the city.

Protesters, on the other hand, have indicated that they intend to stay for the long haul, despite opposition from all levels of government and residents, who have compared the raucous and contentious protest to an "occupation".

Anti-government rally

Thousands of truckers and other demonstrators converged on Ottawa in mid-January to express strong opposition to vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the US-Canada border. The protest has since morphed into an anti-government rally, with several groups banding together to oppose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The "Freedom Convoy" protests have been mostly peaceful, but dozens of criminal investigations have been opened into a series of incidents, with at least seven people arrested in Ottawa.

CHILLS: Canadian Freedom Convoy Supporters Holding Hands, Singing, Tyrants Are SHOOK pic.twitter.com/kIRsTGGYeL

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 4, 2022

Canada trucker protests 

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded an end to a protest by hundreds of truckers against Covid-19 restrictions that have paralyzed Ottawa, while Ottawa's Mayor pleaded for federal assistance.

Trudeau said during an emergency debate in the House of Commons on his return to Parliament after being isolated for a week due to a positive Covid-19 test, "It has to stop."

"This pandemic has sucked for all Canadians," said the premier, visibly irritated by the protests that have paralyzed Ottawa for more than a week.

"But Canadians know the way to get through it is continuing to listen to science, continuing to lean on each other," he added.

He promised federal assistance "with whatever resources the province and city require," but did not elaborate on what measures might be taken.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has previously called on the federal government to send an additional 1,800 police officers and appoint a mediator to work with protesters to "end this siege" that has enraged residents with constant honking and diesel fumes.

State of emergency in Watson 

Watson declared a state of emergency in the capital on Sunday, citing "out of control" protests.

"They don't know what to do with us," said 59-year-old farmer and trucker John Lambert, who was taking part in the protest. "All they've got to do is come to their senses. It's up to them to resolve it."

How did the police deal with it?

The "Freedom Convoy" protests began in western Canada on January 9 as a result of truckers' dissatisfaction with vaccine requirements when crossing the US-Canadian border.

They have since evolved into larger demonstrations against the Covid-19 health restrictions and Trudeau's government.

Tamara Lich, a protest organizer, said that activists were willing to work with the government to find a solution to the crisis, but maintained that pandemic restrictions must be lifted.

"What we're trying to do right now is reaching out to all of the federal parties so that we can arrange a sit-down," Lich said during a meeting streamed on YouTube. 

Police have come under fire for the prolonged crisis, which has seen the capital's center blocked and businesses forced to close.

Ottawa police announced new measures to tame the protests on Sunday, including a prohibition on people bringing fuel and other supplies to the rallies.

"Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest," the police said on Twitter.

IMPORTANT: Anyone attempting to bring material supports (gas, etc.) to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest. Enforcement is underway. #ottawa #ottnews pic.twitter.com/tp4e5d2xe1

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 6, 2022

Several people have been arrested, multiple vehicles have been seized, and hundreds of traffic tickets have been issued since then.