Thread by @SkinnerLyle

Putting on my emergency management hat, some initial steps to resolving the situation in Ottawa is reducing access to the literal fuel that is sustaining this protest in Winter.

What: restrict the fueling of Jerry cans / propane at gas stations

How: Ontario Emergency laws etc

https://twitter.com/mattgurney/status/1490143947326377988

Unlike in NB, the ON Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act is somewhat vague as to the powers of a municipality where a Mayor can declare a state of emergency and take certain actions that are "not contrary to law" to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents

It is this limitation of "not contrary to law" that warrants further examination. I assume that it places a limit on the emergency powers of a city where it cannot displace or suspend existing provincial laws. To my knowledge there is no present law guaranteeing access to fuel.

In my own experience, most declaration of states of emergency at a municipal level are performative in that they are used for a purpose that is beyond the Emergency Management framework of a city. That should not mean the city has zero power.

Alternatively the Ontario Cabinet has the authority to declare a state of emergency and to make laws regulating the distribution and availability of necessary goods (fuel) among other powers

At the federal level the Emergencies Act and the little known Energy Supplies Emergency Act govern the allocation of energy products. In either case, the triggers for their use have not been met. Therefore I am not going to discuss then further.

A more detailed examination of emergency powers afforded to Ontario municipalities is needed but under the general doctrine of emergency management restricting access to fuel isn't a foreign concept. The point is someone can do it. Alternatively city could look at license by laws

Assume a level of government invokes a law to restrict access to fuels what would that look like: Make it unlawful unless authorized to refuel jerry cans in the city of Ottawa. Have police / by law presence at gas stations especially in the downtown core to enforce

Basically if you are loading your vehicle up with a significant amount of jerry cans or hauling them with a sled, in the downtown, it is likely part of the protest.

Also police should enforce dangerous goods regs re max allotment of Jerry Cans for transport

This will obviously not stop all transportation of fuel into the core and doesn't address fuel coming from Gatineau. It will lengthen the supply chains making it more difficult to bring fuel in.

A longer supply chain and reduced volume means more complicated logistics

Presently there is simply an unrestricted flow of fuel into the encampments. Restricting access to additional fuel at the source seems a more feasible solution re police resources and avoiding escalation in the core.

It isn't a perfect proposal but better than the current plan.

Again the risk association with the sheer volume of fuel in the downtown core cannot be unstated. Even if it is used for a non controversial purpose like meal preparation, the documented careless storage of the fuel shouldn't be tolerated.