Parking restrictions, traffic delays in Ottawa's core this weekend

Downtown Ottawa parking restrictions north of Laurier Avenue West, which include no-stopping zones are in effect after Ottawa's police chief said vehicle-based protests won't be allowed to mark the year since the arrival of the convoy.

Thefirst full day of theprotest-turned-occupation of streets around Parliament Hill was Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, which also brought the largest contingent. It went on to last about three more weeks.

Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbshas said more than once that similar vehicle-based protests won't be allowed this winter.

Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Ottawa police said they assisted the Parliamentary Protective Service in arresting two people for trespassing.

By that time, they'd issued20 tickets for provincial offences, while they said bylaw reported that15 vehicles were towed and81 parking tickets had beenissued.

Police estimated around 200 people were atSaturday's event at its peak.

Traffic delays

Without being specific, a Thursday news release from the city about "anticipated events" downtown this weekend said drivers should expect delays in the downtown core.

No longer-term road closures are planned parts of Wellington, O'Connor and Metcalfe streets have been closed to vehicles for about a year but the city saidit may need temporary road closures similar to other moving events. No transit changes are planned.

The city's bylaw department said special parking restrictions cover the area from Wellington south to Laurier and Bronson Avenue east to Elgin Street.

No-stopping signs startedbeing enforced Friday evening with tickets and tow trucks, it said.

The city said no permits had been requested in relation to a demonstration this weekend, but also clarified that organizers wouldn't need one.

"The right to peacefully demonstrate falls under the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms," saidPhil Landry, the city's director of traffic services, in an email.

For previous, similar protests, the city and police have set up "vehicle exclusion zones" that not only bring parking restrictions downtown, but police checkpoints to turn away protest vehicles. No checkpoints have been announced for this weekend.

The city wants to remind people thatbylaws prohibit people from building structures on city property, lighting open fires and using the bathroom in public. Fireworks are also banned 359 days of the year in Ottawa (including this weekend).

The Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region is available 24/7 for people who may be still healing from the impact of past demonstrations, the city said.