The police have promised to fine any «material assistance» provided to protesters.< /p>
A state of emergency was declared in the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Sunday, February 6, amid protests against quarantine restrictions and mandatory vaccination against COVID-19, which have been going on for ten days in a row. /p>
According to local authorities, the decision «reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety of residents posed by ongoing demonstrations, and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government».
It is noted that the state of emergency will allow Ottawa work more efficiently to manage essential services and make procurement more flexible.
Also, the mayor of the city will be able to issue orders, «in accordance with the law, to implement the municipal emergency plan and to protect property , health, safety and well-being of the inhabitants of the state of emergency zone».
On Sunday, the Ottawa police also announced they were tightening control over downtown protesters, threatening fines for giving demonstrators any «material assistance», including fuel.
One of the organizers of the protests, co for his part, he said that the protesters would find a way to bypass the orders of the police.
Note that over the past day, the Ottawa police announced a lack of resources in order to put an end to the protests.
Recall that that protests broke out in Canada at the end of January against quarantine restrictions and mandatory vaccination against COVID-19, when several hundred trucks occupied the center of Ottawa.
The so-called «Freedom Convoy» started as a truckers' rally to end the coronavirus vaccination mandate for cross-border workers, but later turned into a massive demonstration against government overreach during the pandemic.
Amid widespread protests, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family moved to secret location due to security concerns.