Dear ‘Freedom Convoy’: Don’t expect a warm welcome from Ottawa — we’re not in the mood

Ottawa is a metropolis of protests. We've them the best way different cities have chip wagons. They pop up on a regular basis in entrance of the Parliament buildings or a international embassy, and dozens of individuals — sometimes tons of — wave indicators exterior the empty places of work on a Saturday or Sunday, as a result of that’s when folks have time to protest.

If we individuals who dwell right here need to care in regards to the newest protest situation, that’s nice, however we don’t need to. And the sheer variety of protests makes them blur a bit.

We've the privilege, more often than not, of ignoring protests if we select.

The truckers’ convoy has modified that, however not in a great way.

More often than not protesters are focusing on the governing occasion, or a international authorities, or the remedy of Indigenous folks, or different particular issues.

Truckers inform us they're focusing on our metropolis, and its residents, just because that is the place we dwell.

They are saying they’ll shut down Ottawa itself, not simply the federal government. And perhaps they'll. It’s as if somebody bought mad at Premier Doug Ford and mentioned: Let’s shut down Toronto. Sure, the federal authorities is that this city’s largest employer, however public servants are nonetheless a minority. The opposite industries mixed (tech corporations, universities and so forth) have extra staff than the feds do. But many individuals exterior Ottawa deal with all of us who dwell right here as appendages of the federal authorities.

Now there’s a sense of impending violence, fed by indignant phrases and actions because the convoy approaches — and as counterprotesters put together to fulfill them. Ottawa police this week mentioned that officers have been threatened by individuals who imagine police are supporting the convoy.

Chief Peter Sloly responds that police solely need to hold issues peaceable. He cautioned that the protests could be “large,” and “sadly they're polarizing in nature.”

A metropolis councillor representing downtown has issued a written warning to the convoy members. Catherine McKenney, who could develop into our subsequent mayor this yr, warned that “a gaggle of anti-public well being protestors have acknowledged that they'll come to Ottawa and disrupt the authorized industrial and transportation actions of our metropolis.”

The councillor added: “You (protesters) shouldn't have the appropriate to break our infrastructure, to threaten violence, or to spew your statements of hatred, xenophobia, and racism to those that disagree with you. Come peacefully. Come respectfully. Or don't come.”

Whereas we wait, downtown companies are closing for the weekend. So are downtown libraries, veterinarians, and even COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

There’s a widespread resentment, and the ready has jangled folks’s nerves.

This metropolis remembers the 2014 terrorist assault, wherein Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed simply exterior the Parliament Hill grounds. Ottawa has additionally appeared nervously over its shoulder finally yr’s mob assault on the U.S. Capitol, and puzzled: What if?

You don’t management massive teams of indignant folks. They’re coming right here, some say, to power the federal government to retreat, and even power it to resign. Positive, that may occur.

So what really occurs subsequent? After driving throughout the nation, then parading round Ottawa as authorities officers ignore them, it’s arduous to think about that the chilly, pissed off demonstrators will fortunately go residence.

Sure, some downtown retailers are planning to lock as much as keep away from bother. However a lot of the downtown core that the truckers threaten to close down isn't even linked with authorities — it is a neighborhood the place folks dwell.

The bodily structure of Ottawa makes all types of issues for vehicles on a regular basis. Truckers going to or from Quebec should cross the Ottawa River proper in downtown Ottawa, and the roads resulting in the bridges are previous, slender, twisting routes shared with vehicles, bicycle owner and pedestrians, designed earlier than the times of huge rigs. Infrequently a bicycle owner or pedestrian is killed by a truck squeezing by means of these routes, and there’s a clamour, however ultimately nothing modifications.

Pouring hundreds of additional vehicles onto these streets now could be like directing an enormous truck convoy by means of Toronto’s Chinatown or Little Italy, and Lord assist anybody who wants an ambulance whereas the convoy is clogging issues up.

Ah effectively, Ottawa residents hold telling one another, perhaps the joke’s on the truckers. Wait until they see Ottawa on a weekend throughout a lockdown — already about as closed as closed can get. The early Saturday morning temperature is forecast to be -28C.

By no means thoughts. The truckers say for now that they'll carry freedom, or an finish to tyranny, or one thing. Ottawa — the neighborhood, not the federal government — simply hopes they don’t break an excessive amount of stuff earlier than they go away.

Correction — Jan. 31, 2022:This text was up to date to take away a reference to Gatineau, Que. being underneath curfew. The curfew was lifted on Jan. 17.