Freedom Convoy protesters set to return to Ottawa for Canada Day, stay through summer | CBC News - David Fraser:
June 17, 2022 - "Ottawa police say they expect more protests and larger than usual crowds during Canada Day celebrations in the capital this July as groups related to the Freedom Convoy continue to plan protests.... Significant road closures and an increased police presence are expected. Police say additional resources from other services are being brought in....
"Protests are expected to take place on a mass scale in the city starting June 30 when James Topp, a veteran marching across Canada in protest of the remaining vaccine mandates, plans to end his cross-country journey at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.
"Topp began walking to Ottawa in February, inspired by the convoy protests and disturbed, he said, by government overreach affecting people who have chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.... 'This entire march, the purpose of it was to serve as a protest. I felt it was a violation in several different ways.'
"Topp said there was no talk of dropping vaccine mandates when he started the protest. He intends on meeting with MPs once he arrives in Ottawa.... It's not known which MPs have agreed to speak with Topp.
"Andrew MacGillivray, who co-founded Veterans 4 Freedom, says the group has been liaising with Ottawa police about Topp's arrival. He also noted events will continue into Canada Day. A route of Topp's march into the city is circulating online, and plans for a weekend of camping downtown near Parliament Hill are in the works. MacGillivray said the group wants to have the 'least impact on citizens of Ottawa with their everyday life.'"
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/freedom-convoy-protesters-return-canada-day-1.6492504
‘Freedom movement’ rallies planned to run in Ottawa all summer: organizer | Eagle Valley News - Erika Ibrahim, Canadian Press:
June 17, 2002 - "Andrew MacGillivray, steering committee member for Veterans for Freedom, said in an interview posted on YouTube that it will hold a three-day conference in Ottawa next week, from Wednesday to Friday. Veterans for Freedom describes itself on its website as a group made up of Canadian veterans working to “restore fundamental freedoms for all Canadians” and “uphold Canadian laws.” The organization has partnered with other groups that oppose pandemic mandates, including those calling themselves Police on Guard and Canadian Frontline Nurses....
"MacGillivray said the group’s aim is to have the federal government repeal remaining mandates, reinstate federal workers who lost their jobs related to mandates and pay those workers for lost wages. He said his group plans to hold a meeting with up to 17 MPs on Wednesday, who are 'mostly Conservative,' and the next two days will be town hall events with key people in the 'freedom movement.'
"On June 30, Veterans for Freedom is co-ordinating a route for James Topp and his supporters to walk through parts of Ottawa to the National War Memorial. The route has received a police escort, said MacGillivray. Topp is a Canadian soldier who was charged by the Department of National Defence in May after publicly speaking out against federal vaccine requirements while in uniform. He left Vancouver in February to walk to Ottawa in protest of pandemic mandates, according to the Canada Marches website....
"MacGillivray said it will also set up a semi-permanent camp east of Ottawa called 'Camp Eagle' and will be holding events all summer. The camp sits about 40 minutes outside the city on private property. 'Basically, we’re going to stay there the entire summer. We’re going to implement our strategy and our plan to lean on the government through education, information, et cetera.'"
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/freedom-convoy-protesters-return-canada-day-1.6492504
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