Canadian police begin major operation to clear the capital city of protesters and their convoys
That’s as Canadian police began an unprecedented operation Friday morning to remove Ottawa police The secured area would ensure that those seeking entry for an “unlawful reason such as joining a protest cannot enter the downtown core,” according to interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell.With nearly 100 checkpoints, the perimeter encompasses most of Ottawa’s downtown area and is far larger than the protest footprint to date.Those who live, work or have a lawful reason to be in the area would be allowed access, authorities said. “We have a very deliberate plan that will be methodical and will take time for us to progress through to be able to completely remove anyone from the core. So what I can tell you is this weekend will look very different from the past three weekends,” Bell said Thursday. “I’ll say it again, we want people to peacefully leave. But I can tell you that if they do not peacefully leave, we have plans, strategies, and tactics to be able to get them to leave,” he added. Trudeau defends call for emergency powersAmid opposition in parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau The act, passed in 1988 and never before invoked, can temporarily suspend citizens’ rights to free movement or assembly. It can also provide for the use of the military, but Trudeau has said this would not be necessary.”We did it to protect families and small businesses. To protect jobs and the economy. We did it because the situation could not be dealt with under any other law in Canada,” Trudeau said. “For the good of all Canadians, the illegal blockades and occupations have to stop, and the borders have to remain open.” Border crossing blockades in Alberta and Ontario came to an end this week, with arrests being made as police cleared the areas. Four individuals have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the blockade at Coutts, Alberta, and multiple weapons and rounds of ammunition were seized.Another blockade in Manitoba ended without incident, authorities said. 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that he does when he has a chance to do something — he doesn’t go through step one, two, three — he goes straight to 100 and invokes the Emergencies Act,” Bergen told CTV News. “I don’t think anything that we will see will change our mind, we will be opposing it.”The government must propose a motion in both the House and Senate explaining why federal officials need the powers and specifying what actions will be taken, then both the House and Senate must confirm the motions, according to CTV.The federal government will work with premiers across the country “until the situation is resolved,” Trudeau said. “Like I said on Monday, the scope of the Emergencies Act is time-limited and targeted as well as reasonable and portioned. It strengthens and supports law enforcement agencies, so they have more tools to restore order and protect critical infrastructure.” CNN’s Raja Razek, Chris Boyette, Amir Vera and Jenn Selva contributed to this report.