A group of protesters gathered on Parliament Hill on Feb. 18 to mark the anniversary of the removal of Freedom Convoy demonstration in Ottawa following the invocation of the Emergencies Act by the federal government in February 2022.
Protesters mark the first anniversary of police removal of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2023. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times
Protesters mark the first anniversary of police removal of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2023. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times
On Feb. 18, 2022, police ramped up their operations to clear protesters and remove parked trucks, after the act was invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau four days previously. Riot police used pepper spray and batons against protesters, and smashed vehicle windows in some cases.
After the protests were cleared, the act was revoked on Feb. 23, 2022.
The rally on Feb. 18 was held a day after the Public Order Emergency Commission looking into whether the government was justified in using the act released its final report. Commissioner Paul Rouleau said in his Feb. 17 report that he had found “with reluctance” that the government had met the threshold to use the act.
Protesters mark the one-year anniversary of police removal of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2023. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times
Police vehicles in downtown Ottawa as protesters mark the one-year anniversary of police removal of the Freedom Convoy on Feb. 18, 2023. Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times
Ottawa police said in the afternoon of Feb. 18 that it had blocked some areas of downtown Ottawa to prevent any disruptions to the Winterlude festival.
Protesters marched around the Parliament Hill area and listened to speeches, with many holding Canadian flags and other signs.
