2nd night since @fordnation declared provincial state of emergency, 16th night of #ConvoyProtest in Ottawa. Smaller crowd than yesterday, but that may have had more to do w/ -24 C w/ windchill temp than augmented police presence. (Pictured: all police I saw on my walk) #cdnpoli
(these pix are not live-ish, I took them between 10:11 pm and when I got home--sorry folx, too cold to take pics and tweet 'em without freezing fingers).
To give you some sense of the crowd in front of the Peace Tower.
Unlike yesterday night, did not see any police near the Terry Fox statue tonight.
The port-a-potties in front of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office were still there though. Some additions (at least new to me): some have given 'office' names. For Trudeau, for Quebec and Ontario Premiers François Legault and Doug Ford, and CMOH of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam.
How cold is -24 w/ windchill? It's: this musician wondering if anyone has a heater lying around cold. 👇🏼
The National War Memorial. Someone's now written up a Martin Luther King Jr. quote from his I Have A Dream speech and left it nearby. #cdnpoli#ProtestConvoy
This one calls the Prime Minister treasonous, it doesn't use the f word at him.
Couldn't tell you if whoever drew this sign with the former U.S. President definitely knew he'd embraced their cause at a rally or just wanted to use the imagery.
Again a smaller party at Rideau/Sussex than the one last night.
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Commissioner Paul Rouleau speaks to media after tabling his #POEC report. We are told he will not take questions. #cdnpoli
Rouleau's report should be online shortly--it found "with reluctance" that government met threshold for invoking #EmergenciesAct , noted policing failures as well provincial Ontario gov't's absence in engagement. #cdnpoli
Waiting on news conference w/ Minister Champagne to ask questions about this following @Rogers outage last week. He says he directed it and other telecomm giants to reach agreements on emergency roaming, mutual assistance + comms protocol. And says @CRTCeng also to investigate.
@FP_Champagne starts with an apology for being late, says for an hour he spoke to heads of Rogers, Telus, Bell, Videotron, Shaw and East Link.
Champagne says he expressed frustration of Canadians, small biz, emergency services. "This was unacceptable, full stop." Says focus of calls was on resilency over networks across Canada.
Interim chief Steve Bell says they've made important progress today.
Bell says they've advised protesters repeatedly about leaving, and backed up warnings with safe tactics. Says "at every step, they've faced a barrage of resistance, shoving and vitriol," of his officers. Says batons and helmets added this morning as a safety measure.
Couldn't quite catch that part on camera, but as these three rigs went down O'Connor Street leaving the Parliamentary Precinct, there were both scattered cheers and a gent using, well, a single finger to say goodbye. #cdnpoli#protestconvoy
I'm just trying to go grocery shopping! But another pickup leaving if you can see the flag there on the pickup. 'Freedom!' the driver chanted to a pedestrian nearby. He replied with another expression that started with the f word. #protestconvoy
Crush of pedestrians moving south on Metcalfe as wind picks up. But also some headed north toward it.
One of the #protestconvoy's main organizers, Tamara Lich, arguably its most famous face, will be in court tomorrow morning Saturday at 9:30 a.m. She was arrested yesterday night and faces a charge of counselling to commit mischief. #cdnpoli
Meanwhile, as reported by colleague @NicoleatCBC earlier, one of the other organizers, Chris Barber, was released under bail. His conditions: he has 24 hours to leave Ottawa....(cont'd)
And must leave the province of Ontario by midnight, Wednesday. He cannot support the convoy in any way other than paying for gas for other members of #ProtestConvoy vacating the city. Barber is back in court March 1st (cont'd)
Deputy Chief Bell informing Ottawa residents extra officers in place only for as long as the #protestconvoy is still present. "If you want to leave on your own terms, now is the time to do it," he says to protesters. #cdnpoli#ProtestConvoy