Ottawa/CMEDIA: Warnings are being issued to Ottawa residents and protesters Monday by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) over expected demonstrations across the country against the federal government’s recent rise of the carbon tax .
Demonstrators in small groups were seen by the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge linking Ottawa and Gatineau on Monday morning, but no significant traffic interruptions were caused.
Organized by the group Nationwide Protest Against Carbon Tax, demonstrations were set to take place at the bridge at 8 a.m. and in front of Parliament Hill at 11 a.m.
The protests were in response to the federal government’s hike in the price of carbon from $65 per tonne to $80 per tonne on April 1.
Residents were reminded by OOP’s post to social media to be patient during demonstrations and to remind protestors to remain lawful, peaceful and safe.
“While the OPP acknowledges and respects the right to lawful, peaceful and safe expressions of opinion, there is no right to restrict or disrupt transportation infrastructure. All Ontarians have a right to free and uninhibited passage within the province of Ontario,” OPP said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Your message can be heard without endangering lives.”
Traffic alerts were also issued by the Ottawa Police Service for the downtown core of Ottawa for the planned demonstrations.
The City of Ottawa’s traffic map revealed that Northbound Metcalfe Street was closed between Queen Street and Wellington Street for the protests.
Not knowing the duration of the road closure, the traffic in that area is being directed by Police.
The group organizing protests along interprovincial borders across Canada identified the bridge as one of 17 locations
The group’s website said that “regardless of duration” it hopes to maintain at least one centre lane open for traffic and to continue the event until goals are achieved.
The tax hike, being a significant attack point for conservatives, and several premiers who have called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cancel the increase.
