OTTAWA — The City of Ottawa opened its books to show how much the "Freedom Convoy" protest last winter cost, and the pressure it placed upon city services.
Here's a look at the breakdown, according to a brief the city filed with the Public Order Emergency Commission, which is exploring the federal government's decision to invoke the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14.
$7 million — The overall cost of the three-week convoy protest for 17 different Ottawa services, from fire and paramedics to transit and roads, as calculated by its chief financial officer.
$55 million — What the city says it took the Ottawa Police Service to address the demonstration. The figure is based on a draft funding request prepared for Public Safety Canada.
$4.4 million — Ottawa Police Service costs to manage the "Rolling Thunder" protest that descended on the city's downtown for a weekend in late April, raising concerns about a possible repeat of February.
$8.1 million — How much convoy-related demonstrations near Parliament Hill on Canada Day cost police in Ottawa, who increased the overall security presence in anticipation of their arrival.
732 — The number of formal noise complaints the city's 311 service received during February. In addition to this, the city says its staff and councillors received "thousands of email complaints."
3,182 — Parking tickets issued by the city's bylaw enforcement team from Jan. 28 to Feb. 22.
43 — How many families had child care interrupted at two municipal childcare centres in downtown Ottawa, each of which closed for nearly 10 days in January and February during the protest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2022.
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Very interesting stats. I
Very interesting stats. I feel angry that so much public money had to be spent on the Convoy's "siege of Ottawa." The Convoy organizers should have to pay at least some of it back.
Exactly. Here's where the
Exactly. Here's where the seizure and sale of all those illegally-placed vehicles would have been fair.
Freedom Convoy was an
Freedom Convoy was an intentional, attention seeking parasitic barnacle on the nation's gawping disbelief. Freedumb Convoy produced a seemingly endless series of slimy insults to our civic life and a display of egotistical holier than thou self righteousness. AND ignorant stupidity with a cherry on top....
I was torn between disgust and irresistible hilarity.
Being historically a red headed temper tantrum thrower (in grade school), low level rage simmered within me for the duration. I admired the relatively controlled response from Ottawa's citizens who waited too patiently for authority to end the ugly farce.
As an ex-pat Amurrican, I too easily recognised the boorishness of the "protesters" (sh*t disturbers) who took great glee in dissing the peaceful but seething Canadians over issues that mostly didn't disturb us. Their presence as well as costing us millions, lit a fire under the political, professional malcontents to make their own opportunistic imitation big stink.
I wonder it there is an entity to which we can send the bill?
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