Ottawa declares state of emergency as Covid protests get ‘out of control’

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The mayor of Ottawa has declared a state of emergency to help deal with an 10-day occupation by protesting truckers that has shut down much of the core of the Canadian capital.

Jim Watson said on Sunday that the ongoing protest over Covid measures in Ottawa had got “out of control”.

The protesters, who first reached the capital on Jan 29, have parked their big rigs on city streets and put up tents and temporary shacks – paralysing the capital to the consternation of officials and the frustration of many residents.

Mr Watson said the state of emergency “reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Watson had described the situation as “completely out of control,” adding that the protesters “have far more people than we have police officers”.

“Clearly, we are outnumbered and we are losing this battle,” he told CFRA radio. “This has to be reversed; we have to get our city back.”

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