Ottawa police calling in RCMP support for Canada Day festivities
Ottawa police are calling in support from the RCMP for Canada Day festivities, as the service prepares for possible protests over Canada's birthday.
A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board requests special constable status for 491 RCMP officers to respond to events surrounding Canada Day, with operations planned for Monday, June 27 to July 4.
"And other major events that occur up to and including November 30, 2022," staff say.
Ottawa setting up motor vehicle control zone in downtown Ottawa for Canada Day
The service is requesting an extension of the special constable appointments to 291 officers previously sworn in in April for the Rolling Thunder biker protest. The board is also being asked to approve the appointment of up to 200 additional RCMP officers with special constable status.
The special constable status ensures officers can carry out the "full scope of their assigned duties," according to the report.
All the appointments and reappointments will be valid until Nov. 30, 2022.
In April, the Ottawa Police Services Board approved special constable status for 831 RCMP officers until July 4. The two and a half month appointments were in anticipation of additional events and demonstrations in Ottawa.
Ottawa police interim Chief Steve Bell and the senior command will provide an update on plans for Canada Day during Monday's Ottawa Police Services Board meeting.
The service said last week they are aware of planned protests for Canada Day, and vowed they won't allow a repeat of the 'Freedom Convoy' occupation that took over downtown Ottawa in January and February.
"We will be bringing multiple extra policing resources from several services," police said.
"The right to lawful and peaceful demonstrations will always be protected. We will not allow for conditions that led to the unlawful protests in February to reoccur. We are applying lessons learned from the unlawful protest as well as the Rolling Thunder and associated protests to build our plan."
On Thursday, the city of Ottawa unveiled plans for a motor vehicle control zone in the Parliamentary Precinct and through the downtown core.
A motor vehicle control zone will be established from June 29 at 8 a.m. to July 4 at 6 a.m. in an area stretching from Colonel By Drive/Sussex Drive in the east, Wellington Street in the north, Booth Street in the west and Laurier Avenue in the south. There will also be some road closures in the control zone from 12:01 a.m. on July 1 until 2 a.m. on July 2.
The city says the roads will not be closed, and residential and business traffic, pedestrians, cyclists and public transit are permitted to enter and exit the control zone.
"Motor vehicles taking part in any form of demonstration, event, protest or rally will not be permitted," the city says. "Barricades, heavy equipment or police officers and vehicles will be at various access points surrounding the control zone, to filter lawful traffic onto those streets."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.