City of Ottawa vows ‘increased enforcement’ on weekend of convoy protest anniversary

Additional city bylaw officers were to be in the downtown core.

As the first anniversary of the convoy protest occupation approaches this weekend, the city and its police service are promising increased enforcement of municipal bylaws in the downtown core.

A media release late Thursday afternoon said the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service were “working together to ensure city bylaws regarding parking, noise, litter and fireworks” are respected during what it called “anticipated events” downtown this weekend.

A large segment of Ottawa’s downtown, stretching from Centretown into the Byward Market and Lowertown, was snarled by a massive number of big rigs and other trucks and vehicles during the convoy protest that began Jan. 28, 2022, and lasted until a huge police operation cleared those streets more than three weeks later in mid-february.

The media release said special parking restrictions would be in effect downtown between Friday and Sunday. Residents and visitors were advised to follow posted signs and to park their vehicles accordingly.

Additional city bylaw officers were to be in the downtown core, the release added, with all vehicles violating parking regulations subject to being ticketed and towed.

In a Twitter post, the police service said any “illegal activity or obstructing or impeding the flow of traffic with vehicles on any roadway will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and immediate action.”