The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced Tuesday that they have “worked to peacefully resolve the situation” with demonstrators at the last remaining major blockade in Emerson, Manitoba, and are expecting their departure Wednesday.
But, there has been progress with clearing the border blockades.
“Since the onset of this demonstration, I have done everything possible to keep this city safe and put an end to this unprecedented and unforeseeable crisis,” he said.
Sloly previously noted enforcement during the demonstration has been complex and delicate in part because families are embedded within the protesters. The chief had said repeatedly he did not have enough resources to deal with such a large protest.
While Ottawa Police Services Board Chair Diane Deans thanked the former chief for his service, she opened a meeting of the board Tuesday by saying authorities were so far unable to achieve peace in the city.
“The OPS (Ottawa Police Service) has been unable to adequately enforce our laws and our residents continue to be terrorized, it isn’t good enough,” said Deans, adding that, “I have watched in disbelief as this carnival of chaos has been allowed to continue.”
Some measures ease while others remain
Four in every five Canadians are fully vaccinated, and nearly 90% of Canada’s truckers are fully vaccinated and eligible to cross the border, the government said.
While there are no indications the trucker vaccine mandate will be dropped, some modifications to Covid-19 safety measures were announced this week — though officials have been quick to note the changes are not because of the protests but due to decreasing Covid-19 cases and strong vaccination numbers.
“I am happy to announce these changes today, as I know many of us are looking forward to living with fewer restrictions. However, we must continue to exercise prudence,” Federal Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos said. “Let me be clear: Our fight against the virus is not over.”
In British Columbia, restaurants, nightclubs, fitness centers, movie theaters and other venues will go back to full capacity by Thursday, according to the provincial government.
Ontario plans to drop its vaccine passport requirements and indoor capacity limits on March 1 if the province’s Covid-19 hospitalization rates continue to improve, Premier Doug Ford announced Monday. Masking requirements will remain in effect for “just a little bit longer,” he said.
“Let me be very clear, we’re moving in this direction because it’s safe to do so,” Ford said. “Today’s announcement is not because of what’s happening in Ottawa or Windsor, but despite it.”
Canada, US governments coordinating over protests
“The United States is monitoring carefully the blockades in Canada and what we agreed is that we could continue to share information and to advance the very close collaboration that exists between our CBSA and the Customs and Border Patrol, so that we can identify any potential individuals who may trying to cross the border to advance illegal blockades in Canada,” Mendicino said.
There have also been measurable financial ramifications.
The law, passed in 1988, can temporarily suspend citizens’ rights to free movement or assembly, though Trudeau cautioned at a news conference, “We are not preventing people from exercising their right to protest legally.” The act provides for the use of the military but Trudeau said he won’t take that step.
“This is about keeping Canadians safe, protecting peoples’ jobs and restoring faith in our institutions,” Trudeau said, adding that the law will be limited geographically and in scope.
CNN’s Paula Newton, Jenn Selva, Kelly McCleary, Holly Yan, Paradise Afshar, Priscilla Alvarez, Raja Razek and Abby Bustin contributed to this report.
