Trucker protests: Demonstrators gather at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said Sunday that they “have active intelligence investigations ongoing to ensure we know people are leaving, if they are trying to amass again to return to the downtown core,” adding “we are attempting to keep tabs on those that are leaving and potentially massing to come back.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said on Sunday that police continued to have “major issues with a group of dispersed protesters” on Saturday night who exhibited “unruly behaviour” with officers who were attempting to install barriers and fencing.

Freedom Convoy” that has occupied the Canadian capital for 24 days.Police arrested some protesters that were wearing body armour and had smoke grenades on them. They also had miscellaneous fireworks in their bags, the police said.As of Saturday evening, a total of 170 arrests were made.In statements posted on Twitter on Saturday, Ottawa police described encounters with the convoy demonstrators as “assaultive” and “aggressive.” Ottawa police arrest 170 amid push to clear convoy blockade As a result, officers on the ground were equipped with helmets and batons for their own safety.Police continue to urge the crowds to leave peacefully.In the West Block, MPs in the House of Commons resumed their debate Saturday on the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act that had to be paused Friday because of security concerns.The debate is scheduled to continue on Sunday and Monday, with a final vote set for 8 p.m.

Police have continued arresting people and towing vehicles as anti-measures protesters marked another weekend in the capital. As Kyle Benning explains, officers were more aggressive with demonstrators who defied orders to leave.

Freedom Convoy” blockade that has paralyzed the nation’s capital for the past three weeks.On Sunday morning, officers were back at the protest site near Parliament Hill, where a convoy of protesters, many of them truckers, have been demonstrating against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures.At total of 191 people have been arrested since Friday, while dozens of vehicles, including many large trucks, either pulled out on their own or were towed away. Ottawa police use anti-riot weapons on convoy protesters, arrest 170 In a series of Tweets on Sunday, Ottawa police warned protesters they “will actively look to identify” them and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges.It urged residents to avoid the downtown area and to remove all vehicles parked on streets between Metcalf and Bay, and Albert and Gloucester.To prevent protesters from reclaiming territory, officers installed fencing around the demonstration site on Sunday.“We continue to maintain a police presence in and around the area of the unlawful protest occupied,” Ottawa police said in a Tweet.“We are using fences to ensure the ground gained back is not lost.”Things had been very quiet here downtown.

Canadian police are making possibly the final push to clear the capital city of demonstrators who have paralysed it by parking and camping on the streets for more than three weeks to protest against Covid pandemic restrictions.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted Saturday the province will file a court challenge of the federal government’s Emergencies Act in the wake of convoy protests in Ottawa.

A protest that closed the main crossing between Alberta and the United States may have ended this week, but there’s some concern it has created a different kind of division in the border community caught in the middle of the dispute.

Police officers appeared to be shifting strategy Saturday in Ottawa as they worked to clear the remaining protesters from the area, arresting 170 over two days. The slow methodical approach that we saw from police Friday seemed to be replaced with a much tougher line today.

The streets in Ottawa are starting to look more bare and normal. Police warned demonstrators in the evening that it is “unsafe to stay.” “Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity.

Police and protesters faced off for a second straight day in the nation’s capital and at times those tensions erupted into violence, but tonight it appears the Ottawa occupation is into its final hours. Police and protesters are accusing each other of abusive behaviour after a day that saw officers reclaim the street in front of Parliament Hill.

COVID-19 public health measures descended on Quebec City on Saturday for the second weekend this month.Inspired by the so-called Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, horns could be heard as several dozen vehicles, including trucks and tractors, arrived outside the provincial legislature late Saturday morning.It was a mostly festive atmosphere, as some people were dressed up in cartoon character costumes, stuffed animals were handed out to children and music played.It was the second large demonstration against public health measures in the province in two weeks.Since the last one in early February, the Quebec government announced it is phasing out its vaccine passport system and intends to get rid of most COVID-19 health measures by March 14.But protest organizers, addressing the crowd outside the legislature, said they wanted more concessions from the provincial government.Organizer Bernard Gauthier called the tone of the protest “peaceful,” adding he hoped the provincial government would return the favour without specifying any demands.Meanwhile, others called for an end to the provincially-declared health emergency and mandatory masks for school-aged children.Demonstrator Christian Martel said he wanted to see an end to mandatory masking in classrooms.“The pandemic is over, we have to end everything. We’re tired, it’s enough,” said Martel.Some demonstrators said they would also like assurance that the vaccine passport system would not return.Last week, Quebec announced it would be phasing out vaccine passports, but Health Minister Christian Dubé warned it would reimpose the passport system if it’s needed during a new wave of COVID-19.

Police officers in Ottawa have arrested dozens more protesters on Saturday. Sean O’Shea is in the thick of things and brings us the latest.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell has responded to a question about an incident involving police-mounted horses on Friday. Bell said “there was two members of the protesters who did collide with the horses.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said Saturday reviews of video footage will be done to ensure the “lawful amount of force was used” as police moved to clear anti-mandate protesters from the streets of Ottawa.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell provided an update on operations to clear out anti-mandate protesters from the streets of Ottawa saying they’ve made “important progress,” arresting 47 demonstrators Saturday for a total of 170.

Ottawa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said on Saturday that police were documenting the protests with the intent of pursuing financial penalties and criminal charges against those who have participated.

Smoke bombs disperse protesters as police including the RCMP clear Wellington Street in front of Parliament. Protesters from the "Freedom Convoy" in Ottawa are moved from Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill by police officers after blockadi ((Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images))OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - Hundreds of police in riot gear swept through the streets of Canada’s besieged capital Saturday, arresting or driving out protesters, towing away their trucks and finally retaking control of the streets in front of the country’s Parliament buildings.With protesters in clear retreat under the increasing pressure of one of the largest police operations in Canada’s history, authorities’ hopes were rising for an end to the three-week protest against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions and the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said that while some smaller protests continued "this unlawful occupation is over.

anti-government protest on Parliament Hill, Pat King and Tamara Lich, will be appearing in court for their bail hearing on Tuesday.Ottawa police say King, 44, faces charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to obstruct police.King, who hails from Red Deer, Alta., livestreamed his own arrest on Facebook on Friday, and he remains in jail until his bail hearing Tuesday.King is among the more than 100 people police say they have arrested as part of a massive police operation to clear demonstrators who have been blockading Parliament Hill for nearly four weeks.Ottawa police say convoy blockade ‘aggressive,’ one arrested after gas launchedLich already appeared in court Saturday — wearing a mask — for her bail hearing but an Ontario judge said she will decide on Tuesday whether to grant bail to Lich.That means the 49-year-old Alberta woman will be returned to the local Ottawa detention centre until then.Lich, who has been in jail since Thursday night, was charged with counselling to commit mischief in connection with the protests.Decision on convoy organizer Tamara Lich bail will not come until Tuesday morning. She’s been in jail since Thursday night.

Tensions were high Saturday between police and protesters in Ottawa, as officers fired tear gas into the crowd.

Police in Ottawa are continuing a crackdown to end the so-called “Freedom Convoy” that has been encamped for 23 days in the nation’s capital as of Saturday.

LATEST UPDATE: 10:17 a.m. Eastern

three-week -long trucker protest, including two of the so-called “Freedom Convoy’s” organizers. This is day 22 of the entrenched protest in the Nation’s Capital. Catherine Urquhart has the latest.

Canada’s Ivanie Blondin won the silver medal in the women’s mass start speed skating final at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday.

More than 100 people have been arrested as Ottawa Police, assisted by officers from across Canada move in to dismantle the so-called “freedom convoy” blockades near Parliament Hill and through the city’s downtown core. Paul Johnson reports.

Chris Barber, one of the principal organizers of the so-called “freedom convoy,” is being released on bail on the conditions that he imminently leaves Ottawa and no longer supports the downtown blockades.Barber was released from police custody after a court hearing in Ottawa late Friday afternoon.His bail bond is set at $100,000, with his wife set as a surety. He is instructed to leave the city within 24 hours and the province of Ontario within five days.He must also, under the order of Justice Julie Bourgeois, no longer directly or indirectly support the ongoing blockades in downtown Ottawa, which police launched operations to clear earlier in the day on Friday.

Police are in the midst of an operation to clear out the so-called “Freedom Convoy” that has been encamped for 22 days in the nation’s capital, with more than 100 individuals arrested on Friday.

With honking trucks, disruptive occupations, and border blockades, protesters spent weeks pushing back against Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Police in Ottawa have begun the task of ending a protest that began just over three weeks ago. Officers are methodically moving in on demonstrators and trucks, making arrests and towing vehicles.

Police officers have started to make arrests in the capital as the trucker convoy marks its third week in Ottawa. Kyle Benning has more on the standoff between police and protesters and the latest from the liberal government.

During a news conference Friday, Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell said that as of 3 p.m. ET local time, 70 people were arrested as authorities work to clear the city of trucker protesters who have occupied the area for three weeks.

Ottawa Police have begun making arrests at the site of protests near Parliament Hill.

Freedom Convoy” that has held taken over the downtown for the last three weeks.Not only were two protest organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, arrested Thursday evening, Friday’s Emergencies Act debate in the House of Commons has also been cancelled.“A police operation is expected in the downtown core of Ottawa,” speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, said in a tweet on Friday.

Freedom Convoy” encamped for 22 days in the nation’s capital is now underway, with police warning of significant numbers of officers on the ground and urging those involved to remain peaceful.Tactical officers from multiple jurisdictions are on the ground in the core with rifles, while Ottawa Police Service officers could be seen with gas masks and duffle bags on Friday morning.Ottawa police also warned journalists covering the operation to “keep a distance and stay out of police operations for your safety.”“Anyone found within areas undergoing enforcement may be subject to arrest.”A media availability will take place later in the day, police said.Parliament nixed plans for both the House of Commons and the Senate to meet on Friday over the Emergencies Act invocation, with House leaders expressing security concerns. Live updates on the police operation to end the convoy blockade The University of Ottawa also issued a push notification to staff and students warning them to avoid the area due to “increased police action.”“There is a large police presence on Nicholas Street, protesters are being advised to leave immediately,” said police in a tweet Friday.

House of Commons debate on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s use of the Emergencies Act to handle the so-called “freedom convoy” demonstrations has been cancelled on Friday.There is no indication at this time that the additional debate on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be cancelled, and a vote is still expected to be held “early next week,” according to the government.A note from Speaker Anthony Rota noted the cancellation is spurred on by an impending police operation set to take place by Parliament Hill and around Ottawa’s downtown core.“The #HoC will not sit today, Friday, February 18. A police operation is expected in the downtown core of Ottawa.

Canadian police lastnight began arresting leaders of the trucker-led protest that has choked the capital's streets for three weeks and provoked the government into calling on rarely used emergency powers.

21 days after the so-called “Freedom Convoy” arrived in Ottawa, police are now setting up checkpoints and making arrests to end the blockade. Kamil Karamali reports.

Debates have begun in Parliament over the invoking of the Emergencies Act, with parties arguing over whether Ottawa’s drastic move was necessary to end disruptive protests.

Warnings from authorities are piling up against protesters occupying Ottawa, as police bolster their presence and start making arrests. Officials have signalled a bigger confrontation could be coming soon.

Jason Kenney plans to table a motion opposing the invocation of the Emergencies Act when the Alberta Legislature resumes next week.In a video posted to Twitter on Thursday, Kenney said the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act “disturbs (him) greatly.” He also said the Act sets a dangerous precedent because it allows the federal government to freeze people’s bank accounts without a court order.“This is outside of our democratic norms and it’s disproportionate. Yes, the law must be enforced, but we can do that in Canada without resorting to these kinds of extreme measures,” said Kenney in the video.1/ Blockades must end and order must be restored, but invocation of the federal Emergencies Act is disproportionate and unjustified.Freezing people’s bank accounts without due process violates natural justice.This overreach creates a dangerous precedent.

Elon Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Adolf Hitler in a tweet that appeared to support truckers protesting vaccine mandates – and which immediately triggered a storm on Twitter.Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Inc TSLA.O, in late January tweeted support for the Canadian truckers, who have shut down roads and bridges, drawing international attention to their opposition to health policies pushed by Trudeau’s government.Canadian truckers rule— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022Responding to a tweet describing how Trudeau’s government had ordered banks to help cut funding to the protesters, Musk posted a meme of a photo of Hitler, with “Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau” written above his head and “I had a budget” below it.Tesla did not respond to an email requesting further comment.The tweet came as Musk and Tesla on Thursday accused the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of an “endless” investigation to punish Musk for criticism of the U.S.

After 21 days of demonstrations and blockades by the so-called “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa, police are preparing to put an end. Sean O’Shea brings us the latest details.

Windsor, Ont., is calling for residents to treat one another as human beings after police charged a woman for allegedly threatening to bomb his home over COVID-19 mandates.Windsor police said they arrested the 31-year-old woman Thursday for a social media post on a thread about COVID-19 and pandemic mandates. They allege she made the comments Monday, a day after a protest was cleared at the Ambassador Bridge.“Regardless of your opinion on vaccinations or Justin Trudeau or myself or Doug Ford, we all just have to step back and take a breath and realize that we’re dealing with human beings and that we all have more in common than differences,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said in a phone interview.

Freedom Convoy” blockades in the downtown core, hours after warning participants that their window to leave the city of their own accord was rapidly closing.Video footage recorded by Global News of the arrests appeared to show more than one individual being taken into police custody, but the identities of the individuals are not yet clear.The declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government on Monday means the area where the individuals were arrested, on Wellington Street across from Parliament Hill, is a prohibited place of assembly. Live updates on the continued convoy blockade in Ottawa Only Ottawans with a “lawful” reason for being in the downtown core are permitted to do so, after police established a security perimeter on Day 21 of the continued blockade amid signals that they are preparing to end the demonstration that has paralyzed Ottawa.“Overnight and throughout the day, residents are seeing a major increase in the number of police officers on our streets.

Wednesday night all eyes were on Ottawa as new measures were put in place to remove protesters from the capital. Earlier in the day, police were warning protesters they faced arrest, if they continued their occupation next to Parliament Hill.

Ottawa‘s interim police chief says officers will clear the streets of people who oppose the government and COVID-19 restrictions in the next few days, warning they are ready to use methods people are not used to seeing in the capital.

As the Emergencies Act aims to end occupying protests in the capital, Ottawa police began issuing paper pamphlets to lingering protesters, warning them to leave the city or face possible arrest. But as Abigail Bimman reports, despite the stern messages, many occupiers refuse to budge.

Ottawa city council has voted to oust Councillor Diane Deans as chair of the local police services board amid the so-called “freedom convoy” protests that have taken over much of downtown Ottawa for weeks.The move on Wednesday comes after a report that Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson was seeking to replace Deans as the chair of the police services board at a special city council meeting to address the ongoing blockade of the city’s downtown core, according to Deans’ office. Ottawa police pressed for answers on end to convoy blockade: ‘This will take time’ Jessica Bradley, a spokesperson for Deans, a city councillor planning to run for mayor later this year, confirmed a CBC News report that she was called into Watson’s office Wednesday and was asked to resign from her leadership role at the police services board, but she refused.Councillors who voted to remove her said they were concerned after learning the board agreed to hire a new interim chief to bolster the senior command at the Ottawa Police Service without a consultation process.They also suggested the board was not effective in its oversight of the Ottawa police, who have faced heavy criticism for its inaction in the ongoing demonstrations in the city.Somerset Coun.