Ottawa's police chief warns he doesn't have enough police resources to enforce the new powers designed to end the truck convoy protest and blockade in downtown Ottawa.
"We cannot go beyond our current ability unless we get new resources," Chief Peter Sloly said during a special Ottawa Police Services Board meeting on Friday.
"New powers are new powers, without new resources we can't expand and use those powers in the way they were designed."
Premier Doug Ford announced new penalties to protect infrastructure, including roads and pedestrian sidewalks. Non-compliance will now be punishable by fines of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail.
The premier declared a state of emergency to give authorities more tools to stop what he called the "illegal occupation" of Ottawa on Day 15 of the demonstration on Wellington Street and several roads through the downtown core.
"We have been enforcing all the laws available to us, including the new powers under the civil injunction. Our ability to enforce it fully is a direct proportion to our ability to have additional resources," Sloly said.
"The new powers give us new tools, but without new resources we can't enforce to any greater degree more than we've been able to do so now."
Approximately 400 trucks and vehicles remain parked in the downtown core. There were signs of increased enforcement on Friday morning, with Bylaw Services officers threatening fines for blasting loud music. They levied a $1,500 fine against at least one person.
On Monday, the city of Ottawa sent a request to the federal and Ontario governments for an additional 1,700 officers and 100 civilians to help bring an end to the blockade in the downtown core.
Sloly said he couldn't tell the board how many additional officers have been deployed to Ottawa.
"We're still working with the OPP and the RCMP to receive those resources and deploy them, that's all we can mention at this point," Sloly said.
On Thursday, Sloly repeated his call for more resources to end the occupation "safer and quicker."
Speaking with reporters on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the RCMP and OPP are working with Ottawa police for resources.
"I don't accept the contention that the city of Ottawa has exhausted its tools and its resources," Trudeau said.
"The Ottawa Police Force has been given resources from both the OPP and the RCMP, there is concerted efforts around planning and approaches that we'll move forward in a proportional way. But I think it is very clear that the time for these protests to end has come."
As of Thursday, Ottawa police reported 25 arrests in connection to the demonstrations, while more than 1,700 tickets have been issued for Highway Traffic Act and Bylaw offences, including excessive noise, use of fireworks and suspended licences.
There are 126 active investigations ongoing in connection to the demonstration.
CITY SEEKING INJUNCTION TO STOP NOISE, IDLING
The city of Ottawa is asking the courts to stop the noise, idling and fireworks in the demonstration zone.
On Friday, the city's legal counsel appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to obtain an injunction to address the bylaw violations arising from the ongoing protests.
"This action is an effort to restrain the observed widespread disregard by many of those involved in the demonstration for the rule of law and for municipal by-laws enacted to promote the health, safety, and well-being of residents and visitors," City Solicitor David White.
The city is asking the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an injunction in respond to bylaw violations, including Noise Bylaw, Idling Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw, Encroachments on City Highways Bylaw, Open Air Fire Bylaw and Parks and Facilities Bylaw.
"During recent events, By-law Services have not been able to effectively undertake their usual enforcement activities in those parts of the City most affected by the protests, due to safety and operational concerns identified by the Ottawa Police Service," White said in a memo to council. "Where enforcement has occurred, it has not had a deterrent effect."
The city is hoping for a hearing on the application in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the Chief Justice of Ontario approved increased penalties for bylaw infractions in the downtown area.
Fines for violations (previous fine in parenthesis)
- Noise Bylaw - $1,000 ($490)
- Idling Bylaw - $1,000 ($100)
- Use of Care of Road Bylaw - $1,000 ($350)
- Open Air Fire Bylaw - $1,000 ($100)
Ottawa police chief says he needs more officers to enforce new provincial powers - CTV Edmonton
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