Two arrested as police clear protesters' camp beside war memorial
Ottawa police cleared out a tent camp early Saturday at the National War Memorial in Confederation Square, arresting two people and convincing a third protester to leave on his own.
Through the morning, workers hauled away tents and protest signs at the encampment, where a group of people had been living since Canada Day.
One man was charged under the nuisance section of Public Works regulations and released on a promise to appear in court, police Const. Martin Dompierre said. A second man refused to give police his name, so he was charged under the nuisance regulations as well as with obstructing police, Dompierre added. That man was in jail as of Saturday afternoon.
A third man agreed to leave on his own, Dompierre said.
The nuisance regulations forbid people from living, sleeping or erecting a structure at a public space without permission. Police moved in around 6 a.m., he said.
“Our first role in the intervention was to keep the peace. When we got there, there were three occupants in the encampment.”
No-camping signs had been put up at the site on Thursday.
Protesters were warned in writing that day that they had to leave, Public Services and Procurement Canada said.
“Temporary fencing around the grounds has been installed so that the site can be properly restored in advance of the upcoming anniversary of the death of Corporal Nathan Carillo and the National Remembrance Day Ceremony, which are an important reminder of the significance of this site,” said a statement from the federal department, which manages the site. In addition, annual winterization of the site will be completed.
The people at the encampment espoused a wide range of grievances, including opposition to wearing masks and a claim that the federal government deliberately allowed COVID-19 into the country. They said they belonged to a group called the Canadian Revolution and called their encampment the “freedom siege.”
One camper livestreamed video of himself accosting NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and a Radio-Canada reporter he had apparently mistaken for a member of Parliament.
Public Services and Procurement Canada Minister Anita Anand said last week that she supported the right to peaceful protest, but Canadians should be able to pay their respects at national memorials without being harassed.