Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on Friday were held under heavy police surveillance as hundreds of protesters against health measures were firmly expected.
• Also read: Federal ministers celebrate Canada
• Also read: ON VIDEO | Violent clashes on Canada Day
They were indeed numerous, strolling the streets of the city center to chant their opposition to Justin Trudeau’s government and sanitation measures, although the vast majority of these have been gradually abandoned since the beginning of the year.
Several of them were present in February when the “Freedom Convoy” was in full swing on Wellington Street opposite Parliament.
“I came to send a message to the government that still hides skeletons in their closet,” Duncan said, waving a giant maple leaf. The latter said he has traveled to the capital several times since then.
AFP
The Toronto man mistakenly believed he still doesn’t have the right to board planes or trains as he still hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19. Transport Canada’s measure has been suspended since June 20, but wearing a mask remains mandatory.
François Amalega Bitondo, a famous anti-vaccination activist who spent nearly 40 days in prison this winter, was there early evening. He was presented as a “national hero” before delivering a three-minute speech to Parliament earlier in the evening.
Unlike February, as usual, thousands of people descended on the city center simply to take part in the Canada Day celebrations.
Recall that four arrests were made Thursday night near the National War Memorial after an attack on a police officer.
The demonstrators therefore mingled with citizens and tourists, whose opinions and attitudes towards the “freedom convoy” were quite negative.
AFP
“We don’t really know why they’re protesting. You’ll just ruin the event. Why are they doing this on Canada Day?” launched Angela Lacandalo, an Ottawa resident whose several friends had given up coming because of the presence of the protesters.
“There are many families and the protesters are ruining the day for those who are visiting. They said their word in February,” said Montreal resident Emma Grehls. “They have the right to express themselves as long as they don’t hold the city hostage.”
Chris Haynes, who arrived in Ottawa yesterday from Brampton, a Toronto suburb, with his wife and two children, believes “it’s not the right day [pour manifester]“ and judges that the demonstrators against the hygiene measures are “privileged”.
“Honestly, most of the people who think what we went through was difficult have never travelled. They don’t know other corners of the world because what they call a fight is just a piece of cake for a lot of people,” he lamented.
Normally the main stage for the big July 1st show is set up on Parliament Hill.
However, due to ongoing renovations to the main parliament building, the City of Ottawa has decided to move the whole thing two kilometers west to the LeBreton Flats.
Despite the strong presence of demonstrators, despite all the good spirits, the whole thing took place in an atmosphere of reunion after two years of fallow.
In 2020, the party had moved entirely online, while in 2021 it was marred by the discovery of Indigenous children’s burials near a former Indian boarding school in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a speech on the main stage in the afternoon. The big concert at LeBreton Flats is scheduled to take place around 8 p.m.