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Canada PM: Military response not on the cards to manage COVID protests
Canada’s prime minister has confirmed sending in troops to clear protesters from the nation’s capital is “not in the cards right now”
The city’s police chief had earlier refused to rule out military intervention to remove demonstrators, amid ongoing protests about COVID-19 rules.
Thousands arrived in the city last weekend to protest vaccine mandates, gridlocking downtown Ottawa.
Police Chief Peter Sloly warned that protests could grow again this weekend.
“There may not be a policing solution” to resolve the impasse,
he said on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the country’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that his government had received no formal request for military assistance to remove the group of protesters who have been camped out in and around parliament.
“One has to be very, very cautious before deploying military in situations engaging Canadians,” he added, saying it’s not something to “enter into lightly”.
The PM SAID.
Trudeau urged protesters to “go home” – a sentiment echoed by city officials
The prime minister has refused to meet the truckers.
Ottawa residents have also expressed frustration over the demonstrations, complaining of constant noise, an impact on local businesses and public services, and unruly and aggressive behaviour.
Police have begun ticketing protesters, writing 30 traffic tickets for infractions like excessive noise for horn honking and disobeying street signs.