The City of Ottawa says it is ready to welcome the convoy of motorcyclists

According to Mr. Bell, protesters are expected to arrive by Friday afternoon and hold most of their activities on Saturday. If all goes as planned, their departure is scheduled for Sunday.

Saturday, between 400 and 500 motorcyclists should take the route established for the demonstration, from 10:45 am.

This route runs along the previously announced Motor Vehicle Exclusion Zone. He will go the way Coventry towards downtown, via the Vanier Parkway, Montreal Road, then Rideau Street. The convoy will then take the street Wallerwill cross the bridge Mackenzie Kingthen drive on the street ElginLaurier Avenue West before converging on Highway 417 via Nicholas Street.

No stopping or parking will be tolerated on the route, warns the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and officers will be on standby in the event of non-compliance with this instruction, said Mr. Bell.

The Ottawa police add, however, that the roads will not be closed and that residents will be able to circulate freely.

Our priority is the safety of our residents and to ensure that the protest remains peaceful with the least impact on our residents.insisted Mayor Jim Watson.

Several measures in place

The City of Ottawa has already announced, earlier this week, the implementation of an expanded motor vehicle exclusion perimeter, including in particular at the Marché By.

The Municipality also indicated that a number of exceptional parking restrictions will be in effect downtown, in the Côte-de-Sable district and in Vanier, this weekend, inviting motorists to watch for signs and move their vehicle accordingly.

All vehicles that do not respect the no stopping zones will be ticketed and will be towednotify the City of Ottawa’s By-law Services.

The interim head of OPSOttawa Police Service insisted that no excess will be tolerated, nor any manifestation of hatred or violence.

” People have the right to protest peacefully, but there will be consequences for those who break the law. »

Told on social media that it had been identified as a staging site for this weekend’s protest activities, the Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada (RA Center) said in a statement on Thursday that people associated with the protest or participating in the protest do not have permission or access to the RA Center and that it will resort to tickets and towing if necessary.

In recent days, the Ottawa police have multiplied the warnings on their social networks.

the OPSOttawa Police Service will be able to benefit from the assistance of 200 additional officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), if the need arises . The total number of personnel deployed or available this weekend, however, has not been revealed. But according to Mr. Bell, the OPSOttawa Police Service has the necessary staff to respond to any type of situation.

An increased police presence on the streets of downtown Ottawa should be felt as early as Thursday evening, according to the interim chief.

Trust to rebuild

In a press briefing on Thursday morning, Mr. Bell, like Mayor Jim Watson, repeated that they had a plan to avoid the overflows observed in January and February, during the demonstration of truckers which paralyzed the city center for more than three weeks.

I have great confidence in Mr. Bell and his team. We are in a better position to protect the citizens of the City of Ottawa. It’s impossible to be sure there won’t be a problem this weekend, but we have a plan. [que nous] we had more time to [établir] only in Februaryexplained Mayor Watson.

We have already started implementing this planadded Chief Bell.

” Our plan was designed to address concerns and allow access for residents. »

the OPSOttawa Police Service said to be in contact with the organizers of the demonstration, but there are still unknowns, acknowledged Patricia Ferguson, acting deputy chief of the Ottawa police.

We have regular contact with the organizers of the “Rolling Thunder“, but we are also aware that there are other people who are involved and who are planning something. We also want to be in contact with themshe said.

Distrustful citizens

Some citizens of the federal capital remain suspicious. Solidarity Ottawa, a coalition of local unions, community organizations and residents, remembers the truckers’ protest earlier this year, blaming the City of Ottawa and the OPSOttawa Police Service for failing to protect residents.

The group, which is due to hold a press conference on Thursday morning, fears another failure with the arrival of motorcyclists.

Unions, community organizations and residents stand up to demonstrate that far-right hate is not welcome in our community and that we stand side by sideindicates Solidarité Ottawa, in a notice sent to the media.

Mayor Jim Watson says he understands citizens’ concerns, but tries to be reassuring.

I understand there is a lot of frustration as the February protest was tough on residents and small businesses. But we’re in a better position with this protest this weekend.he insisted.

The interim chief urged residents to report any issues and to avoid trying to directly address the situation on their own.