Ottawa’s mayor asking for help from all levels of government to deal with the ongoing trucker demonstration

An Ottawa judge issued an injunction Monday afternoon prohibiting protesting truckers from using their air horns downtown. This, as Ottawa’s police chief says he needs hundreds of extra officers to deal with the ongoing occupation in the nation’s capital.

Ottawa’s mayor Jim Watson says enough is enough and that demonstrators should leave downtown. “We will do everything in our power to take back the streets of Ottawa from the criminal activity and hooliganism that’s transpired over the last nine days… I will be writing to Premier Ford and Prime Minister Trudeau later today to convey chief Sloly’s request and help us dramatically increase our law enforcement capacity as quickly as possible.”

Ottawa Police chief, Peter Sloly says the size and number of trucks have been significantly reduced over the past few days. “The previous weekend numbers were as high as 10 to 15 thousand demonstrators in the downtown core, numbers were down to 5000 including counter-demonstrators.” But, he says police still need more help. “We are asking for an additional 1800 police-civilian personnel.” The city also asked the chief justice of Ontario to increase fines. The request was to increase the fine for idling from 100 dollars to 1000 dollars. The noise by-law fine from 490 dollars to 1000 dollars and the fine for encumbering a roadway from 50 dollars to 1000 dollars.

Monday, an Ontario superior court justice granted a 10-day injunction ordering truckers demonstrating in downtown Ottawa to stop their loud and prolonged honking. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says Trudeau isn’t doing enough, calling for an emergency debate in parliament tonight. “We have a crisis on our hands and we need to immediately have the Prime Minister representing the federal government meet with the affected municipalities to offer any help that we can.”

Emergency preparedness minister Bill Blair says it is up to Ottawa police to keep order. “Let me be clear, it is not the role of any government to direct law enforcement operations. It is the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction and in this case the Ottawa police service to maintain public order and uphold the rule of law.”

Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca says Premier Doug Ford should be doing more. “I’m urging Doug Ford to declare a provincial state of emergency to provide for the powers and the authority that might be required to help work on developing that plan in case it’s needed.”

The Premier didn’t make any public statements today.