Ottawa closer to the goal of returning to a 'state of normalcy,' police chief says

The intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive is open to traffic and several roads are clear of trucks for the first time in three weeks as police continue to clear the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration in downtown Ottawa.

Police have arrested 191 people and towed 79 vehicles since launching the operation to remove demonstrators and vehicles from downtown streets Friday morning. As of Sunday evening, 107 people faced a total of 389 charges.

"We promised we would return our city to a state of normalcy, with every hour we are getting closer to that goal," Ottawa police interim chief Steve Bell said.

Police announced Sunday evening that Rideau Street reopened to motorists and pedestrians at Sussex Drive, while southbound Mackenzie Avenue, northbound Sussex Drive and Colonel By Drive are also open to traffic.

O-Train service will resume on Monday in the downtown core, with trains serving Lees, uOttawa, Rideau, Parliament and Lyon Stations.

Police said businesses that have been closed since the demonstration began Jan. 28, "should feel safe to reopen," adding there will continue to be a "strong police presence" in the red zone in the days ahead.

"Businesses and residents, we thank you for your patience throughout this operation. Supporting local businesses is considered lawful if you are entering the secured area," police said on Twitter.

The Metropolitain Brasserie on Sussex Drive announced it would reopen at 5 p.m. Monday.  Sources tell CTV News reporter Mackenzie Gray the Rideau Centre will reopen on Tuesday.

Twenty-four days after the convoy rolled into the downtown core, vehicles have been cleared from Wellington Street, Bay Street, Kent Street, Lyon Street, Queen Street and Metcalfe Street. Police say the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway will reopen on Sunday after the final vehicles left or were towed on Saturday.

The streets of downtown Ottawa were quiet on Sunday afternoon, following the operation that began on Friday to remove vehicles and demonstrators from streets.

"It's a relief that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the work is not done because there's still accountability for the situation," said Zexi Li, the lead plaintiff on a class-action lawsuit against the organizers of the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, police said no pedestrian or vehicle traffic was permitted north of Sparks Street between Elgin and Bay streets. Security fencing has been installed on several streets to block pedestrians and vehicles, while the police "Secured Area" remains in place between the Queensway and Wellington Street and Bronson Avenue and the Rideau Canal.

"(Residents) woke up this morning to fencing and a very heavy police presence through the downtown core," Bell said in a message to residents.

"While I know that everyone is pleased to see many of the unlawful protesters are gone, this is not the normal of our city. Despite the successes of the past few days, we still require these measures to prevent unlawful protesters from returning."

Bell said four people were arrested for attempting to enter a secured area in the Parliamentary Precinct.

Four kilometres away, police moved in on Sunday to evict the remaining demonstrators at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium on Coventry Road. As police began clearing streets this weekend, the staging area at the stadium was packed up and dismantled by protesters.

A major police operation two weeks ago targeted the encampment at Coventry Road to seize stockpiles of fuel from demonstrators. Police said approximately 3,200 L were seized during the operation on Feb. 6. The camp, however, remained in place.

Still about 20 or so vehicles and one of the saunas appears to remain pic.twitter.com/1KtvvMU5Pj

— Colton Praill (@ColtonPraill) February 20, 2022

As of 3:30 p.m. Sunday, 191 people had been arrested since the operation began to clear the Parliamentary Precinct.

Bell told reporters that 107 people have been charged with a total of 389 Criminal Code offences. Charges include mischief, assault, disobeying a court order, obstructing police and assaulting a police officer.

Seventy-nine vehicles were towed from downtown streets since Friday. 

Ottawa's interim police chief said Saturday that officers will continue to work through the days ahead to remove protesters from downtown streets and end the 'Freedom Convoy' demonstration.

"This demonstration is over, yet it hasn't finished yet," interim chief Bell told CTV News Ottawa.

"We will continue to work through the night, through the coming day and/or days until ultimately the streets are taken back, and that’s every pocket of it - the downtown core, Coventry or any other area where these demonstrators may have set up so that the citizens of Ottawa get their streets back," Bell said.

A police presence remains in downtown Ottawa Sunday. Fences have been erected "to ensure the ground gained back is not lost," police said in a tweet.

Police vehicles are parked on a pedestrian walkway between Rideau Street and George Street in downtown Ottawa. Feb. 20, 2022. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa paramedics say 21 people have been transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries from the secured area in downtown Ottawa since Friday.

"No fatalities were recorded," Ottawa Paramedic Chief Pierre Poirier said.

The perimeter I saw from police stretched from Lyon and Sparks all the way through to the Rideau Centre. It included high fences, concrete barriers, and police presence. This is the view of Elgin and Queen pic.twitter.com/Bdn2ctgWyZ

— Colton Praill (@ColtonPraill) February 20, 2022

Sunday morning, police announced charges against a High Prairie, Alta. man, Tyson George Billings, who was arrested Saturday. The 44-year-old is facing charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, obstructing police, and counselling to obstruct police. The charges are similar to those laid against other high-profile figures and organizers within the "Freedom Convoy" movement. Police said Billings is due in court Sunday.

"WE'RE TAKING BACK OUR CITY," EL-CHANTIRY SAYS

Ottawa police services board chair Eli El-Chantiry joined Mayor Jim Watson for a driving tour of the secured area around the Parliament Precinct on Sunday.

"It was a good day to be around and see our streets has been cleared. It feels good to feel we're back in our city and we're taking back our city," El-Chantiry said.

El-Chantiry also had a message for the officers from the RCMP, OPP and municipal police forces across the country in town to assist with the police operation.

"I want to say thank you to the partners. We could not have done it without your help and your assistance. So heartfelt to all our members who have been working tirelessly for the last three weeks."

INCREASED SECURITY REMAINS

Speaking on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, Mayor Jim Watson didn't say when secured checkpoints and the increased police presence would end.

"We'll continue to have increased enforcement in and around the residential areas," Watson said, noting police have promised not to leave until the city is "safely returned to the people of Ottawa."

"We want to make sure that it's like putting out a fire. You don't want to have that one last ember light up again. You need to have the force that we had through the different police services to ensure that this thing ends peacefully, as quickly as possible."

THE FUTURE OF WELLINGTON STREET

The three-week demonstration and occupation of Wellington Street renewed the debate about what to do with the street that runs under Parliament Hill.

Mayor Watson says discussions should be held to determine whether to prevent vehicles from accessing Wellington Street in the future.

"I think there's going to be on the short-term measures to prevent people from coming in and those people who shouldn't be on Wellington," Watson told CTV's Question Period.

"The longer term we have to look at that, whether we turn it into pedestrian and cycling. There's also the Gatineau Tram system that wants to come and use Wellington. So, there's a lot to take into account but there's going to have to be changes because you can't allow this to happen again."

Senator Vern White, the former Ottawa police chief, has said he is in favour of making Wellington Street a pedestrian mall. White has also said federal police should look after the Parliamentary Precinct.

SECURED AREA

Ottawa police have not said when the 100 checkpoints designed to limit traffic flow into the downtown core will be removed.

A 'secured area' has been set up from the Queensway to Wellington Street and Bronson Avenue to the Rideau Canal area.

Police say anyone who lives, works or are moving through the area for reasons other than to participate in the protest will be allowed to enter.

"You will be required to show proof of exemption for your travel to the Secured Area," police said.

A look at the secured area set up by Ottawa police.

ROAD CLOSURES

Multiple exits are closed along Hwy. 417 through the centre of Ottawa until further notice.

• The eastbound exits on the Queensway are closed at Rochester, Kent, Metcalfe and Nicholas.
• The westbound exits on Hwy. 417 are closed at Bronson, Metcalfe, Nicholas and Vanier Parkway.

O-TRAIN

O-Train service will resume in downtown Ottawa on Monday for the first time in three days as police continue the operation to remove the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration.

In a memo to council, Transit Services General Manager Renee Amilcar said full O-Train Line 1 service will resume from Tunney's Pasture to Blair Station.

The O-Train has not stopped by Lees, uOttawa, Rideau, Parliament and Lyon stations since Thursday night due to the ongoing police operation in downtown Ottawa.

CLOSURES

Here is a look at what's closed in the Ottawa area today due to the demonstration:

•  Ottawa City Hall and the underground parking garage
•  Rink of Dreams
•  Ottawa Public Library Main and Rideau branches
•  The Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the uOttawa Minto Sports Complex
•  Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum and the National Gallery of Canada
•  Rideau Centre

The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau is also closed.