‘Naive’ to Think Authorities Should’ve Prevented Freedom Convoy Protest: Ottawa City Manager

Ottawa city manager Steve Kanellakos appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Not long after hundreds of vehicles entered Ottawa to protest COVID-19 restrictions last January, the highest ranking public servant in the city pushed back against the idea they could have been easily prevented from doing so.

“It’s a bit naive for somebody to believe that the police and the city should have just prevented the protest from happening,” said Ottawa City Manager Steve Kanellakos in a text message on Jan. 30.