Emergencies Act Inquiry: Ottawa Residents Say Protest and Police Stance Made Them Feel ‘Helpless’

Emergencies Act Inquiry: Ottawa Residents Say Protest and Police Stance Made Them Feel ‘Helpless’
Victoria De La Ronde, left, and Zexi Li, the first witnesses to appear at the Public Order Emergency Commission, react as audio of truck horns from the protest is played during their testimony, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
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Ottawa residents whose lives were disrupted for three weeks during the winter Freedom Convoy protest told the Public Order Emergency Commission on Friday they felt “helpless,” with one saying she’s experiencing long term effects.

“The impact on my physical well being is quite extensive. I certainly during the experience had difficulty sleeping, I had an effect on my lungs and my throat because of the fumes and other smells, and I also have long term effects,” said Victoria De La Ronde, a retiree with a mobility disability.