Canada looks to end Covid protests with tougher financial
measures after another weekend of arrests
CNN
—
Another weekend of protests against Canada’s Covid-19 mandates saw around 200 arrests in the nation’s capital as authorities moved to end the weekslong demonstration, towing vehicles and going after protesters’ pocketbooks with financial penalties.
Police said they employed pepper spray and escalated tactics over the weekend to disperse crowds and make arrests with protesters gathered in front of the Parliament building.
Some of those arrests included protesters who allegedly had smoke grenades and fireworks, and were wearing body armor, police said.
Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit is also reviewing an incident where a woman was reportedly seriously injured after an interaction with a police officer on a horse, and a second where an officer discharged a less-than-lethal firearm at protesters.
Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell told a news conference Sunday police operations had seen a dramatic decline in the number of protesters.
But he said downtown residents had woken to fencing and a “very heavy police presence” as well as checkpoints throughout the city.
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“While I know that everyone is pleased to see many of the unlawful protesters are gone, this is not the normal state of our city,” he said. “Despite the successes of the past few days, we still require these measures to prevent unlawful protesters from returning.”
Bell said 191 protesters had been arrested and 107 people charged. Charges included obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer, he said.
Chris Harkins, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police reported at the news conference 76 vehicles had been seized and towed.
The Ottawa protests were started in late January by a group of truck drivers opposed to a Covid-19 vaccine and testing mandate. But others outside the trucking industry have joined to express their frustration with an array of other Covid-19 health measures, such as requirements to wear masks in schools.
Officials vowed to end the protests through unprecedented protocols, including the Emergencies Act. The law allows the Canadian government to tap into military forces, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear troops will not be needed.
to clear downtown Ottawa of protesters on Saturday, February 19.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img”>
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP
Protesters and police face each other as police move in to clear downtown Ottawa of protesters on Saturday, February 19.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Patrick Doyle/Reuters
A truck is towed away in front of Ottawa’s Parliament Hill on February 19.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Alex Kent/Getty Images
Police clear downtown Ottawa on February 19.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Alex Kent/Getty Images
A protester’s eyes are washed out after being affected by a chemical irritant fired by police on February 19.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Patrick Doyle/Reuters
People show their support for a trucker as he leaves downtown Ottawa on February 19.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Andrej Ivanov/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer watches as a truck leaves Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, February 18.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP
Police officers form a line as they push back protesters on February 18.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP
Mounted police move in to disperse protesters on February 18.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Blair Gable/Reuters
A man prepares a truck for towing in Ottawa on February 18.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/The Canadian Press/AP
A man is detained by police as protesters and supporters gather in downtown Ottawa on Thursday, February 17.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
From left, protest leaders Eddie Stewart Cornell, Vincent Gircys and Daniel Bulford attend a news conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, February 16.
a flyer that was being distributed to protesters in Ottawa on February 16. Police said they may arrest anyone blocking streets or assisting someone who is doing so.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img”>
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Trucks and protesters block downtown streets near Canada’s Parliament on Tuesday, February 15.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press/AP
A truck convoy departs Coutts, Alberta, after blocking the highway at the US border crossing on Tuesday, February 15.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ted Shaffrey/AP
Truck drivers block traffic outside Canada’s Parliament on Monday, February 14.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images
Police gather to clear protesters who blocked the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, on Sunday, February 13. The Ambassador Bridge, North America’s busiest land border crossing, reopened Sunday.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A demonstrator stands atop a truck holding a Canadian flag during a protest outside the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa on February 12.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A demonstrator lets off a firework during a protest outside Parliament in Ottawa on February 12.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ted Shaffrey/AP
Truck drivers and others protest Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in Ottawa on February 12.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Tina MacIntyre-Yee/AP
Protesters heading out of and into Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York, honk their horns as they head toward the Peace Bridge on February 12. One holds a bobblehead doll of former President Donald Trump out his window while stopped in traffic.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A demonstrator shouts during a protest outside Parliament on February 11. Canada’s Ontario province declared a state of emergency over the trucker-led protests paralyzing the capital and blocking trade with the United States.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A protester wears Canadian flags on her head during a protest outside Parliament on February 11.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press/AP
The Ambassador Bridge closing slowed supplies to US automakers. It also caused major traffic jams, such as this one, which diverted vehicles to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, on February 9.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/Getty Images
Supporters wave flags as a convoy of trucks moves through Toronto on February 5.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A protester walks to a demonstration in Vancouver, British Columbia, on February 5.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Counterprotesters gather at Terminal Avenue to block a convoy of protesters in Vancouver on February 5.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/Getty Images
Supporters of the protesters pass by a honking truck near Queen’s Park in Toronto on February 5.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Steve Russell/Toronto Star/Getty Images
A protester holds up a wanted poster of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as protesters gather around Queen’s Park in Toronto on February 5.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Dave Chan/AFP/Getty Images
Trucks parked in downtown Ottawa continue to protest Covid-19 mandates on February 4.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Arindam Shivaani/NurPhoto/Getty Images
A protester requests that police let trucks come close to Queen’s Park during a protest at the park to support the truckers and denounce the government’s vaccination policy.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
David Kawai/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Trucks from the so-called Freedom Convoy block downtown streets during a demonstration in Ottawa on February 3.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A protester stands with a Canadian flag in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Gavin John/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Lines of trucks block the US-Canada border during a demonstration in Coutts, Alberta, on February 2.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Truck drivers and supporters protest in Ottawa on January 31.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Alex Kent/Getty Images
A child in Ottawa holds a sign comparing Covid-19 regulations to Nazi Germany on January 30.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images
Supporters arrive at Parliament Hill to protest on January 29. Hundreds of truckers drove their giant rigs into the Canadian capital.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Alex Kent/Getty Images
Protesters party as a firework explodes in front of Parliament Hill during a rally in Ottawa on January 29.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Lars Hagberg/AFP/Getty Images
A supporter of the Freedom Convoy protests Covid-19 mandates in Ottawa on January 29.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Alex Kent/Getty Images
A man holds a firework during a protest in Ottawa on January 29.
Photos: Scenes from the Canadian trucker protests
Cole Burston/AFP/Getty Images
Supporters of the truckers gather near a highway overpass outside of Toronto on January 27.
Protesters hit with financial penalties as funding sources investigated
Mike Duheme, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner of federal policing told Sunday’s news conference the Emergencies Act had helped with the police operation.
“Provisions of this Emergencies Act have allowed us to maintain the perimeter, restrict travel and ensure that we can continue to choke off financial support and other assistance to protesters,” Duheme said.
Canadian authorities on Sunday froze the finances associated with certain individuals and companies believed to be involved in the protest, Duheme said.
The RCMP froze 206 financial products, including bank and corporate accounts; disclosed the information of 56 entities associated with vehicles, individuals and companies; shared 253 bitcoin addresses with virtual currency exchangers; and froze a payment processing account valued at $3.8 million, Duheme told the news conference.
“We continue to work at collecting relevant information on persons, vehicles and companies and remain in daily communication with the financial institution to assist them,” Duheme said.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour officials were looking into how the blockades had been funded.
“We’ve launched inquiries to see whether there was foreign influence. I’ve raised the issue with Secretary Blinken, my counterparts also within Canada have raised issues, because we’re very preoccupied with the financing, through crowdsourcing, first, and also the disinformation campaign linked to it,” she said.
In the meantime, Canadian officials Saturday announced small businesses who had been unable to open due to blockades and who had suffered financial loss could apply for up to $10,000 they would not have to pay back.
The funds, totaling up to $20 million, may only be used for nondeferrable operational costs not covered by other federal programs, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario said.
CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.
a flyer that was being distributed to protesters in Ottawa on February 16. Police said they may arrest anyone blocking streets or assisting someone who is doing so.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img”>
