'Freedom Convoy' protesters regroup in rural communities surrounding Ottawa
After a large police operation cleared out "Freedom Convoy" protesters from downtown Ottawa, many vehicles are regrouping on private properties in communities outside of the city.
On White Lake Road, five minutes south of Arnprior, Ont., an assembly of vehicles has been present in a farm field since Friday. Protest organizer Pat King had told protesters ahead of the weekend police operation to regroup at the Antrim Truck Stop in Arnprior.
Antrim owner Tom Orr, who has 10 acres of parking space for truckers at his stop, told CTV News Ottawa he has had to kick out roughly 150 people associated with the convoy from his property who refused to follow his business's rules. Orr says that has pushed more protesters to gather down the road from his truck stop.
Approximately 30 to 35 vehicles could be seen at the gathering Tuesday, with at least a dozen portable washrooms and large dining tents set up on site as well.
McNab/Braeside mayor Tom Peckett says he went to the site Tuesday and spoke with protesters gathered there who told him it is a staging area for people to meet up and say their goodbyes before heading back home.
"Each day there's a certain amount of vehicles that turn over," Peckett tells CTV News Ottawa. "They come in for a day, they stay overnight, they socialize, they get up in the morning and a bunch of that group leaves for the west and then some more come in from the city of Ottawa."
At this time, the mayor for the area says he has no issues with protesters gathering in the field. He adds they have followed the township's bylaws including securing a permit for outdoor fires.
"It's on private property, they're not obstructing the roads, they're not blowing their horns or creating any noise that I'm aware of," says Peckett.
On Saturday, OPP vehicles could be seen near the field. Police told CTV News Ottawa they were nearby for proactive reasons. On Tuesday, no police were in the vicinity. OPP said Tuesday that they are aware of the gatherings on White Lake Road, as well as another in Vankleek Hill, Ont. at the corner of Highway 417 and Highway 34, and are monitoring both locations.
Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel told CTV News Ottawa in an email that the municipality is aware of the the presence of truckers at the location in Vankleek Hill, but no activity had been reported to him, and he did not believe further comment at this time would be appropriate.
Peckett says if protesters start breaking any laws, the municipality will act appropriately. The mayor adds he doesn't expect the staging area to be in place much longer, based on conversations with those at the site.
"He said to me that figured they wouldn't be there very long, maybe another couple of days, two or three days or so," says Peckett, "and then be all gone."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.