Downtown closures extended as police arrest 7, issue dozens of tickets

Ottawa police issued more than 100tickets Sunday and arrested seven people as the force unveiled plans toprevent people from supplying the protesters in the downtownwith gas, food and other "material supports."

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) announced the new tacticina tweet Sunday afternoon,as the protest against COVID-19 public health measures inthe city'sparliamentary precinct a protest several political leaders have called an occupation continues for asecond weekend.

Anyone who brings in those supplies couldbe arrested, OPS said.

Policedid not respond to a request for comment, citing officer safety. But on Sunday night the OPS said in a press release that seven people had been arrested over the course of the day six people on mischief-related charges andone for driving while prohibited.

More than 100 tickets were issued for infractions like excessive honking, driving the wrong way, having easily accessible alcohol and lacking the right class of licence, OPS said.

There are also more than 60 active investigations underway, primarily for hate crimes, thefts, mischief and property damage, police said down from 97 earlier in the day.

State of emergency declared

The City of Ottawa also declared a state of emergency Sunday, noting it"reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government."

• Ottawa declares state of emergency as police boost enforcement, target protest's fuel supply

"Declaring a state of emergency does recognize and reflect on the danger that we're seeing in our city, the dangers and the harassment and just the kind of lawlessness," said Catherine McKenney, councillor for the downtown Somerset ward.

"And then beyond that, it's an administrative tool. It allows us to circumvent rules, for example, around procuring resources we might need."

Earlier in the day, McKenneyrevealed plans tointroducea motion at aspecial city council meeting Monday afternoon to bring the protest underfederal jurisdiction.

The announcements comeaftercrowds swelled by thousands throughout the daySaturday and lingered downtown late into thenight, blaring horns and setting offfireworks instreets dense with apartment buildings, condosand office towers.

Police said early Sunday that officers had responded to 650 calls for service andissued more than 450 tickets since Jan. 29for a range of violations that includemaking excessive noise, using fireworksand failingto drive in a marked lane.

The Freedom Convoy 2022 released a statement Sunday morningcalling for a temporary halt to horn honking from the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST.

The press release said the temporary pause in honking was to bedone"out of respect for the Lord's Day," members of the military, police and as a "gesture of goodwill."

Despite the promise from organizers to provide quiet in the area, some honking could be heard starting at around10 a.m. It had become constant by noon.

Protesters clearing out of Confederation Park

Protesters began dismantlinga temporary encampment in Confederation Park on Sunday.

A group ofprotestershad built a wooden shack and stockpiledfood and fuel at the park across the street from city hall,but a spokesperson for the group, George Tiger,said they were tearing down the siteat the request of Ottawa police.

Tigertold CBCOttawathe group would relocate to another camp set up in the parking lot near the city-owned baseball stadium on Coventry Road.

On Sunday evening, dozens of heavily armed police officers descended on the baseball stadium. Protesters said police removed the fuel that was being stored on the site to supplytrucks parked in in the city centre.

Snipers stood guard on the roof of the stadium and hotel, on either side of the parking lot, as police moved andprotesters yelled, "shame, shame."

Ottawa police said two of the day's arrests occurred at Coventry Road.

Calls foraid

After OPS Chief Peter Slolycalled for more resources at a rare emergency meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board Saturday afternoon, several Ottawa city councillors are requestingprovincial or federal aid.

Slolyhas said he needs "an additional surge of resources" to address theprotests, which some Ottawa city councillors havebegun describing as anoccupationor a siege.

TheOttawa Disability Coalition released an open letter Saturday addressed to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. DianeDeans, who is also chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, demanding they take action to "restore the rights and freedoms of the residents of this occupied area."

Tickets issued, funding withdrawn

Although there have been complaints from residents and city councillors that Ottawa police have thus far taken a mostly hands-off approach to protesters, bylaw officers have been ticketing illegally parked cars in and around the city's downtown core.

As of Thursday, officers had issued 115 tickets for parking in "no stopping"and "no parking"areas within the protest perimeter, according to an email to CBCon Saturday. As well, 28 vehicles were towed for"impeding traffic and blocking laneways," the city said.

Two protesters were also spotted on horseback Saturday. Christine Hartig, programmanager with the city's bylaw and regulatory services, told CBC in an emailthatthe animal care and control bylaw prohibits livestock like horses from being in areas not zoned for that purpose.

That area includes Ottawa's downtown, she said.

Closures, traffic disruptions continue

Traffic disruptions remainthroughout the core, and updatescan be found here.

Downtown bus routes continue to be diverted to Confederation Line stations, according to OC Transpo, while the Sussex Drive entrance of Rideau Station is closed until further notice.

The Rideau Centre is also remaining shut for the time beingas "authorities cannotprovide any assurancesthat it is safe to reopen," according to a statement Sunday from mall owner Cadillac Fairview.

City hall and its underground parking lot, the Rink of Dreams and the Main and Rideau library branches will all stay closed on Monday. So will St. Luke's Child Care Centre and Centre ducatif Pinocchio,the city said Sunday evening.

Ottawa Public Health's COVID-19 vaccine hub at the Jules MorinFieldhouseon Clarence Street will be closed Monday, while the closure of theclinic at the University of Ottawa Minto Sports Complex has been extended until Wednesday.