Tow truck companies are unwilling to help police haul away the vehicles that have blocked border crossings in Coutts, Alta., and gridlocked Ottawa鈥檚 downtown core, according to officials in both jurisdictions.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki told reporters during a briefing about the blockade that had formed near the Canada-U.S. border near Coutts that the towing companies fear for their livelihood if they get involved.
鈥淔rom the onset of this event, we actively engaged towing companies to assist. Unfortunately, they were unwilling to become involved when it was implied that helping law enforcement with removal would likely damage their livelihoods into the future,鈥 he said during the news conference.
Zablocki added that without the help of tow truck companies, there is little the RCMP can do to move the vehicles, given the size of the vehicles at the border.
鈥淭hat is currently a challenge for us, given the type of vehicles that are located on the roadway and at the site,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he challenge is in the context of acquiring proper resources and heavy equipment to be able to move those trucks.鈥
Zablocki touted the progress that officers had made in dismantling the convoy thus far, even without the help of towing companies. He said that as of Tuesday afternoon, there are just 50 vehicles blocking the border, down from as many as 250 during the height of the demonstration.
鈥淭hey need to recognize that this protest is not lawful,鈥 he said, adding that the RCMP is prepared to investigate every single person who may have visited the blockade.
鈥淲e鈥檙e confident that charges will be laid.鈥
Steve Kanellakos, Ottawa鈥檚 city manager, echoed Zablocki鈥檚 sentiment during a briefing with city council on Monday evening, indicating that tow truck companies are unwilling to move the large trucks because working with them is a large portion of their business.
Ottawa has contracts with 10 tow truck companies, used to move vehicles parked illegally or to move cars to plow snow. The city is currently reviewing its contracts with the companies to address the matter.
鈥淲e've contacted them all and every one, they're all refusing as of today to provide heavy tow truck work,鈥 he said.
The city has also reached out to other Ontario cities for help with the towing and has been contacting other tow companies in Eastern Ontario.
Ottawa Police Service Deputy Chief Steve Bell said during an update Tuesday, that the force鈥檚 鈥渟urge and contain鈥 strategy continues in an 鈥渁ll out鈥 effort to end the occupation in the downtown core.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working to ensure we鈥檙e enforcing the order,鈥 Bell said, referring to the injunction that was granted Monday to halt the incessant truck horns. 鈥淎s more resources become available to us we will focus on using them on the unlawful demonstrators whom have chosen to remain in our city.鈥
Bell said police have made 22 arrests, issued more than 1,300 tickets and have 79 ongoing criminal investigations, adding that officers have seized fuel and cut off financial and logistical support to the occupation.
鈥淚 also want to be clear we are not just dealing with demonstrators in Ottawa,鈥 he continued. 鈥淵esterday with the Ohio police, we were able to trace, identify and arrest someone for calling in fake threats designed to deceive and distract our emergency resources.鈥
The Ottawa Police Service estimate approximately 500 trucks and personal vehicles remain in the 鈥渞ed zone鈥 or downtown core of the city, making parts of the capital inaccessible.
Some businesses in the core area remain closed, including the Rideau Centre Mall, as well as the Canadian History Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian War Museum.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino said at a briefing Tuesday that 鈥渨hat began as an interruption has become an occupation,鈥 including what he described as flagrant expressions of hate, harassment and even violence towards Ottawa residents.
鈥淪ince the beginning, the federal government has been there to support the city and the police in Ottawa,鈥 he said in French. 鈥淲e have provided additional resources, including RCMP officers鈥 and the commissioner is working closely with the Provincial Police of Ontario and the City of Ottawa to see how we can further support their efforts. Progress has been made.鈥
Ottawa Police Service Board Chair Diane Deans said on 麻豆影视 Channel Tuesday the protesters are 鈥渨ell organized, well funded and seem to have significant strategy.鈥
鈥淲e will continue to work at this, but I continue to think the upper tier governments will come to our aid,鈥 Deans said of Ottawa鈥檚 pleas for more resources to address the convoy and 鈥減ut down this insurrection.鈥
鈥淥ur city has been under siege, our residents have been treated abysmally,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e all want this to come to an end.
On Monday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson sent letters to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying the protest had turned into a 鈥渟iege of our downtown area,鈥 and asked the provincial and federal governments for an 鈥渋mmediate injection of additional officers.鈥
Watson asked for 1,000 regular officers, 600 public order officers, 100 investigative officers and 100 civilian staff, as well as 鈥渟upporting resources.鈥
Superior Court Judge Hugh McLean has also granted an injunction to end the incessant honking from the convoy protesters, which spurred the $9.8 million class-action lawsuit. McLean granted an injunction for 10 days.
麻豆影视 reporters on the ground in Ottawa have indicated fewer honking trucks on Tuesday, as the injunction appears to be taking effect.
Ottawa city council also voted on Monday to ask the province to draw up legislation that would grant them the ability to charge the protesters for the costs of the demonstrations, which police estimate are as high as $2.2 million per day.
While the main convoy protest has been centred around Ottawa鈥檚 downtown and Parliament Hill, across the country smaller demonstrations have taken place in solidarity with the 鈥淔reedom Convoy.鈥
On Monday, protesters block two of the three lanes on the Canadian side of the in Windsor, Ont., which connects Canada to the U.S. through Detroit.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told 麻豆影视 Channel鈥檚 Power Play on Tuesday that the lanes going to the United States are open, but the ones coming from the U.S. are 鈥渟till blocked.鈥
鈥淚t is a frustrating situation because you have so many folks who cross the bridge on a daily basis to deliver loads, to Ford or Chrysler or GM, or Kroeger or grocery stores,鈥 he said.
鈥淚f (trucks) get stuck over there and there鈥檚 no pathway for them to come back, then it just further exacerbates the problem.鈥
Speaking to reporters in the West Block Tuesday, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said the blockade at the Ambassador Bridge has 鈥渟erious implications鈥 for the economy and Canada's supply chain.
鈥淚鈥檝e already heard from automakers, heard from food grocers, this is a really serious cause for concern,鈥 he said, adding that he hopes the demonstration stops soon.
Dilkens said the blockade has an impact of up to $500 million per day, as between 8,000 and 10,000 trucks cross the bridge daily.
鈥淎ny ongoing closure of this border crossing will have a significant impact on the economy of our nation and that鈥檚 why it cannot be allowed to continue,鈥 he said.
Alghabra said that he had reached out to the Ontario government and the MP for Windsor-Tecumseh Irek Kusmierczyk to offer support, but reiterated that the blockade is a municipal and provincial matter in their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, solidarity protests were held across the country over the weekend, with major disruptions in Quebec City and Toronto and smaller demonstrations in New Brunswick and Halifax.
On Tuesday, he is calling a special council meeting on Thursday to discuss the next steps for the city to address a protest outside the Manitoba Legislature.
"We want Winnipeggers to know we are hearing loud and clear from you and what we are hearing is that Winnipeggers want the laws to be enforced," he said.
Bell described the remaining protesters as 鈥渉ighly determined and volatile,鈥 and said they have attempted to subvert police efforts. He noted an officer was swarmed in a 鈥渁ttack while trying to seize fuel.鈥
Bell also said police intelligence had determined nearly 25 per cent of the trucks encamped on Ottawa streets have children living in them who 鈥渃ould be at risk in a police operation.鈥
Responding to a question from reporters, Bell said police were working with the Children鈥檚 Aid Society to ensure the kids have access to proper sanitation and are safeguarded from concerns over noise, fumes and cold weather. There are no plans to remove the children from the trucks, he said.
鈥淥ur message to demonstrators remains the same, don鈥檛 come,鈥 Bell said. 鈥淚f you do, there will be consequences, including financial consequences, for your illegal and unlawful behaviour.鈥
---
With files from The Canadian Press and CTVNews.ca Online Politics Producer Rachel Aiello
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by 麻豆影视 Toronto show.
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Prosecutors have charged a Michigan man with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the dating app Grindr.
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, a spokesperson for the United Nations' Human Rights Office said on Friday.
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
NDP Leader David Eby is vowing to raise British Columbia's speculation and vacancy tax on empty homes if re-elected premier this month.
One day after a man was stabbed to death in East Vancouver, a 27-year-old woman has been charged with murder.
A Vancouver tenant is at war with his former landlord over what he calls an exorbitant charge for bent blinds.
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by 麻豆影视 Toronto show.
Police forces in the Toronto area have stepped up their presence in Jewish and Muslim communities as the one-year anniversary of the deadly Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel inches closer.
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man鈥檚 drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.
Martha Hart, the widow of Calgary wrestler Owen Hart, is speaking out after the release of Netflix's 'Mr. McMahon' documentary series, which she says inaccurately portrays her husband's death as an accident.
Authorities say two Calgarians were arrested and charged in "a complex scheme" involving stolen vehicles.
An annual ceremony is bringing together the families and friends of missing and murdered Indigenous people in hopes of raising awareness about the issue.
The owner of a Gatineau, Que. caf茅 says it's 'silly' that Quebec's language watchdog is telling the business to write its Instagram posts in French.
The O-Train will be out of service all day on Saturday and for two additional hours on Sunday as part of work to integrate the Stage 2 East extension with the existing LRT line.
There was a decrease in the amount of waste heading to the City of Ottawa's landfill in the two months leading up to the city's new three-item garbage limit.
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Classes and campus activities at CEGEP de Valleyfield were cancelled Friday morning as a result of a police operation.
Public transport users who regularly use Fabre, d'Iberville and Saint-Michel stations on the Montreal metro's blue line will have to be patient, as the emergency closure of the three stations announced on Thursday evening could stretch out over 'a few days, or even a few weeks.'
Following the Alberta government鈥檚 recent announcement of capital funding to build charter and independent schools, the Investigative Journalism Foundation has found that several consultants with ties to the United Conservative Party (UCP) have been lobbying on behalf of charter schools and associated organizations over the past year.
Artificial intelligence has for three years now served as a kind of gut check for Alberta Wildfire staff making decisions about how to allocate resources.
The return of the Canadian Finals Rodeo to Edmonton is expected to exceed economic projections.
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The federal Fisheries Department says it is concerned about a "pattern" of violence and threats toward its enforcement officers after two tense incidents off southwestern Nova Scotia last month.
A 31-year-old man is facing theft and break-in charges in connection to a vandalism incident at the Fredericton Public Library that caused tens of thousands of dollars of damages over the weekend.
The Opposition Tories introduced a motion to get the justice system to take another look at the case of Jordyn Reimer.
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
Winnipeg Comiccon will feature a pair of hobbits who helped bring the One Ring to Mount Doom.
RCMP say fraudsters are continuing to ask for gas money before selling fake gold jewelry to people around Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe says if re-elected, his government would introduce a Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit aimed at making renovations more affordable.
As pressure grows on the oil and gas sector to reduce its emissions, one Calgary-based company is banking on the potential to convert waste gas from oil wells into valuable electricity for nearby communities.
Waterloo Regional Police have laid charges after a car crashed into the side of a Kitchener home at 3:30 a.m.
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man鈥檚 drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.
Two serious crashes shut down Highway 401 early Friday morning in Puslinch, Ont.
Saskatoon police arrested a homeless person at the scene of an encampment underneath the University Bridge on Friday morning.
The mayor of Loon Lake is appealing to both provincial and federal government leaders for assistance in dealing with rising crime in the village, which has seen an increase in vandalism, theft, and property damage.
As pressure grows on the oil and gas sector to reduce its emissions, one Calgary-based company is banking on the potential to convert waste gas from oil wells into valuable electricity for nearby communities.
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
A motorcyclist is left with serious, life-altering injuries after a crash on Highway 11 in northern Ontario on Wednesday morning.
Two more Elliot Lake teens have been charged in connection to the break-in at the local arena last week and are accused of causing more than $50,000 in damage.
A ceremony was held inside the Wolseley Barracks on Friday, honouring the family of Officer Cadet Brett Cameron who died by suicide at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. in 2016.
According to police, officers responded to the 600 block of Tennent Avenue for a, "report of a possible stabbing" around 9 p.m. on Thursday.
A London, Ont. man, who pleaded guilty earlier this year in a harassment case, has been sentenced to two months in jail for criminal harassment of a Windsor, Ont. family.
The Ministry of Labour is investigating a workplace incident that claimed the lives of two people in Georgian Bluffs, south of Owen Sound.
A Midland woman is facing several charges after police say she bit an officer while being arrested for an alleged armed confrontation.
A 62-year-old man has been charged after police received a report about an employee stealing over $60,000 worth of materials from a Huntsville business.
A London, Ont. man, who pleaded guilty earlier this year in a harassment case, has been sentenced to two months in jail for criminal harassment of a Windsor, Ont. family.
The Windsor Police Service (WPS) are looking for a witness to a collision between a pedestrian and vehicle in September.
Brian Masse, Windsor-West鈥檚 Member of Parliament (MP), stood before the House of Commons on Friday, criticizing the eased hazardous material restrictions at the Ambassador Bridge.
NDP Leader David Eby is vowing to raise British Columbia's speculation and vacancy tax on empty homes if re-elected premier this month.
Politicians are continuing to promote their promises across British Columbia as the provincial election campaign nears its midway point.
One person is dead after a floatplane carrying three people crashed Wednesday evening in a remote inlet on British Columbia's central coast.
Three young suspects have been arrested in connection with a swarming attack on a teenager in B.C.'s Okanagan last week 鈥 and authorities have asked the public to stop circulating disturbing videos of the incident.
A father in Kelowna is furious after his 13-year-old daughter was brutally beaten on Gyro Beach. He is calling for criminal charges in the devastating attack, which was caught on video by multiple bystanders.
The officer who shot and killed a forcible confinement suspect in Kamloops two years ago was justified in doing so, according to the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.
WestJet has changed its operations at the Lethbridge Airport, and it means there's now only a single daily flight from Lethbridge to Calgary, down from three flights a day, as offered previously.
Archie's Exotic Pet Rescue has been open about six years and, like many other animal rescues, it has seen a surge in surrenders.
It鈥檚 almost deadline day for Lethbridge residents interested in becoming members of one of the city鈥檚 boards, commissions and committees (BCCs).
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
A suspect who accused Thunder Bay police of being responsible for his throat injury actually hurt himself when he swallowed a large amount of drugs.
An outfitter in Kenora, Ont., and two individuals have been fined a total of $9,500 for bear hunting offences, including abandoning a bear they shot and using it as bait to hunt another bear.
He may not have logged the fastest time or even gone the full distance, but residents of a Newfoundland town agree the goat who unexpectedly joined the local weekend half marathon was the event's undisputed champion.
A mother in a community where the cost of living is one of the highest in the country says grocery prices are 'inhumane' and retailers are putting profits ahead of people鈥檚 basic human right to food.
A soccer game in England on Tuesday night drove a spike in online traffic across the Atlantic to a website launched by the Newfoundland and Labrador government.
Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce funding to support French-speaking African countries and initiatives to promote the French language in the Francophonie.
Defence Minister Bill Blair says Israel has the right to defend itself in 'a calibrated and proportional way' following Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.
When an Ontario doctor refused to sign off on a mammogram for 38-year-old Sidra Lone, the mother of four says she was left with no choice but to lie.
Staff at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital are calling for systemic changes just two days after its emergency room was more than three times above its capacity.
An Ontario child has died after coming in contact with a rabid bat, a health official confirmed on Wednesday.
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Alphabet's Google is testing showing check marks next to certain companies on its search results, a company spokesperson said on Friday, in a move aimed at helping users identify verified sources and steer clear of fake websites.
A hacking group tied to Russian intelligence tried to worm its way into the systems of dozens of western think tanks, journalists and former military and intelligence officials, Microsoft and U.S. authorities said Thursday.
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
Legendary singer Paul Simon has said he is 'optimistic' about being able to return to performing live after losing most of his hearing in his left ear.
A painting discovered by a junk dealer in the basement of an Italian villa six decades ago is actually the work of Pablo Picasso and could sell for millions, according to experts.
Canada's airlines have failed in their challenge of air passenger protection rules that the federal government implemented in 2019.
The Competition Bureau says it's obtained a court order as part of an investigation into potential anti-competitive conduct by the Canadian Real Estate Association.
The Vatican Bank has fired two employees whose recent wedding violates a newly-introduced ban on marriages between staff.
A five-seat sushi counter located inside another restaurant is the latest Vancouver eatery to receive a Michelin star.
Toilet paper shortages in stores across America are giving folks nightmarish reminders of the pandemic era. But the lack of toilet paper isn鈥檛 a direct result of a major port strike Tuesday. It鈥檚 because of panic buying.
What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
Caitlin Clark has been named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in a near-unanimous vote, giving the Indiana Fever back-to-back winners after Aliyah Boston won the honour last season.
Days after being suspended by FIFA, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced heroics in front of the watching Prince William as Aston Villa sealed another famous win against Bayern Munich.
The claim to Shohei Ohtani's potentially lucrative 50th home run ball grew more complicated this week, with a second fan filing a lawsuit asserting he had possession of the historic baseball.
Tesla is recalling more than 27,000 Cybertrucks because the rearview camera image may not activate immediately after shifting into reverse, the fifth recall for the vehicle since it went on sale late last year.
A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.
