When and how will the Ottawa protests end? Experts weigh in

As Ottawa continues to be overwhelmed by ongoing demonstrations against vaccine mandates, the question of how things may end is top of mind.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the protesters who are displaying offensive messaging and flags, little has been done to remove them from the nation’s capital since they arrived 12 days ago.

While there were suggestions on social media that the truckers could be leaving, there was little movement reported as of Wednesday morning.

Trucks still in place in front of Parliament Hill. #cdnpoli

Video by colleague @NewloveNigel pic.twitter.com/mvOhSh1Vwh

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 9, 2022

UBC pollical science professor Max Cameron says the only way that goes successfully is if Trudeau gets opposition politicians on his side.

Cameron says the response should represent the “entire democratic political class” with support from all opposition parties so it doesn’t appear like Trudeau is acting unilaterally.

“Get the trucks out of Ottawa. You can’t have them belching diesel, and honking horns, and defecating on the streets, and turning Ottawa into this kind of macabre carnival. They have to be removed, but they have a complete right to protest,” Cameron said.

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“The critical thing is if they do that without political cover, if it looks like fight between the federal government and the convoy…you are potentially putting yourself in a situation which is actually reminiscent of the October Crisis,” Cameron said.

The October Crisis was the third and last time the federal government invoked the War Measures Act. The act extended the powers of police and authorities and suspended civil liberties. It was brought in over escalating violence from separatist extremists in Quebec in the 1970s.

Then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau uttered the now-famous phrase “just watch me” when reporters asked how far he was willing to go to stop the Front de libération du Québec.

But while the Ottawa protests have not seen similar levels of violence, another political science professor agrees force will need to be used to some extent.

Nelson Wiseman, University of Toronto professor emeritus of political science, believes the way this should end is by circulating the demonstration with police officers and allowing protestors out — but not back in.

Trucks attempting to drive down University Avenue between Bloor Street and Queen’s Park are blocked by a police cruiser during a demonstration in support of a trucker convoy in Ottawa protesting COVID-19 restrictions, in Toronto, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

However, he admits more boots on the ground would be needed.

“Ottawa police force just doesn’t have that many police officers to be able to do that. There are hundreds of trucks in the city, not just in the red zone, but all over. That leads me to the second and bigger challenge, it’s not even controlling people, it’s moving those trucks,” Wiseman said.

Ottawa police say more than 20 people have been arrested in the ongoing protest and more than 1,300 tickets have been handed out. But the demonstration continues, seemingly undeterred.

Smaller new protests have been popping up across the country, including at the Pacific Highway Crossing in Surrey where a handful of protesters have promised to return Wednesday.

Wiseman says there are talks of bringing in the army.

FILE — A man crosses the road in front of vehicles taking part in a protest, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

“We don’t want to use the army, that isn’t what it’s designed for and they don’t have police training,” he said, calling the next steps “tricky.”

He also says suggestions of removing the individuals’ trucking licences might escalate tensions.

On Tuesday, Ottawa police said almost 25 per cent of the 418 large vehicles still blocking Ottawa’s streets are occupied by families with children.

Ottawa Deputy Chief Steve Bell said they are concerned for the childrens’ wellbeing in the cold, and worried staging a police operation would put them at risk.