Ottawa’s police chief says the city might need military’s help to end the trucker protest

During an hours-long community briefing, Sloly said his police service could not realistically stop thousands of protestors or hundreds of trucks and cars from entering Ottawa.

“There is no lawful authority to seal a city, there’s no practical capability to seal a city of this size,” Sloly said, noting it would take a police force of 50,000 to even attempt it.

Sloly also claimed that US money and organizers were involved in the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protest.

“We are now aware of a significant element from the United States that have been involved in the funding, the organizing and the demonstrating. They have converged on our city and there are plans for more to come,” Sloly claimed, adding, “The longer this goes on, the more I’m convinced there may not be a police solution to this demonstration.”

A GoFundMe page for the “Freedom Convoy” has now raised nearly $8 million US, making it one of the highest earning causes in Canada, according to the organization.

City officials say they are considering bringing legal action against GoFundMe for helping to fund an illegal protest but worry legal action would take several weeks and would not help to resolve the issue.

CNN contacted GoFundMe for comment and has not received a response.

Protests to continue

Organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” released a statement Wednesday saying they had empathy for city residents but that they will stay in Ottawa until all levels of government end all mandates associated with the pandemic.

“Our message to the citizens of Ottawa is one of empathy,” said Chris Barber, who identified himself as a senior leader with the group. “We understand your frustration and genuinely wish there was another way for us to get our message across, but the responsibility for your inconvenience lies squarely on the shoulders of politicians who have prefer to vilify and call us names rather than engage in respectful, serious dialogue.”

A similar trucker protest thousands of miles away in the province of Alberta continued Wednesday with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police saying they continue to try to negotiate with protesters.

Police said the demonstrators agreed to open a lane near the Coutts border crossing on Wednesday afternoon.

That protest has blockaded a major commercial border crossing between Alberta and Montana since Saturday.

Protest has negative effects on vulnerable people, charity says

City officials said the convoy’s words of empathy rang hollow as they described angry and frustrated residents who are putting up with inconvenience and abuse.

Horns have blared almost continually downtown for five days and traffic has impeded many from getting food and medical attention.

Businesses, including restaurants and a large mall, have been mostly shutdown since the weekend.

Charities in particular have said the most vulnerable residents in the city are suffering trauma.

Shepherds of Good Hope, a homeless shelter and kitchen in Ottawa, said some protesters harassed staff and volunteers for meals.

A local women’s shelter also said its staff and residents are affected by the ongoing demonstrations.

“The residents and staff in Ottawa’s women’s shelter are exhausted,” Amber Bramer of Cornerstone Housing for Women in Ottawa wrote in an online statement. “This protest is having consequences on the rights and wellness of the city’s most vulnerable people. Women and staff are scared to go outside of the shelter, especially women of color, being able to go outside is the only reprieve many women experiencing homelessness have and they cannot even do that.”