On Sunday, authorities in Ottawa confirmed that they had regained ground from the trucker-led ‘Freedom Convoy’ that has been protesting against the government’s COVID-19 policies and disrupted proceedings in Canada’s capital for almost three weeks.
Ottawa’s interim Police Chief, Steve Bell, said, “We’re not done with this operation yet,” adding that his job now is to ensure that none of the protesters return to “occupy” the streets again. Although there were some protesters still in the city who were walking around yelling “Freedom,” Bell confirmed that their numbers have “dramatically declined” and noted that the department has put up metal fences and concrete barriers, and placed police cars to block access to the Parliament Hill. Bell said that the government will conduct thorough investigations that will go on for months, declaring, “We will hold people accountable for taking our streets over.”
Bell also mentioned that federal financial investigators are working to track down and reprimand individuals involved in the protests. Online crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo confirmed that it is working with the government to ensure that accounts connected to the protests are frozen, highlighting that “the bulk of the funds are in an undisclosed United States bank.” Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Mike Duheme—Canada’s federal police—confirmed that the enactment of the Emergencies Act had allowed the police to freeze 206 financial accounts, 306 entities, and 253 Bitcoin orders connected to the protests.
Authorities began their crackdown on Friday and by Sunday afternoon, the police had made 191 arrests, charging 107 people. According to Bell, the police has filed 389 charges, ranging from mischief and obstructing police to disobeying court orders and assaulting a police officer; the police also towed 76 vehicles. Ontario’s civilian law enforcement agency, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), confirmed that it is investigating two incidents regarding police conduct during the crackdown. One investigation is looking into the police’s use of non-lethal anti-riot weapons on Saturday and another into an incident involving a 49-year-old female protester who was left “seriously injured” following her interaction with a mounted officer.
Amid the turmoil of the police’s efforts to clear the protests, several reports have surfaced over the horrible treatment of journalists by the demonstrators. Interim Ottawa police chief Bell said, “The media has been subjected to slurs, to abuse,” saying that his department has opened one criminal investigation over the matter. Canada’s Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne called the treatment of journalists “profoundly disturbing.”
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the federal Emergencies Act to bring an end to the ongoing protests and blockades. The Act expanded the jurisdiction of the police and financial authorities, allowing for a swift response. Trudeau’s move was, however, criticised by the premiers of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec. Trudeau’s decision came after American President Joe Biden urged him to use federal powers to quell the protests, which have deeply impacted cross-border trade, particularly in the auto industry.