The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has said it has no plans to intervene in the ongoing Ottawa trucker convoy protests that are entering their third week of demonstrations.
Ottawa Police chief Peter Sloly said he was looking at possible “military aid to civil power” on Wednesday, prompting military officials to shut down any speculation that they might assist in dispersing protestors.
“The Canadian Armed Forces are not involved in law enforcement in this situation, and there are no plans for such CAF involvement,” said a spokesperson for defence minister Anita Anand.
Last week, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson called on a massive force of federal and provincial law enforcement to crack down on the peaceful protest, requesting nearly 2,000 additional officers for the endeavour.
Ottawa politicians including local councillor and chair of the police services board Diane Deans have branded the trucker convoy “treason” and an “insurrection” in an ongoing attempt to demonize the freedom movement.
“We all need to work together. This is not something this country has ever seen before,” said Deans on Tuesday. “I understand Mark Carney referred to it as sedition today. I think that’s exactly what it is. This is treason. This is way bigger. This is a group of well-polished professional people that are trying to overthrow the government.”
Columnists in the legacy media have also called for the military to move on the demonstrators, which include families and children.
Toronto Star columnist Susan Delacourt tweeted that it was “dispiriting to a lot of residents” in Ottawa that the government ruled out moving in the army.
In an op-ed published in the Globe and Mail, Andrew Cohen compared the Ottawa protests to the 1970 October Crisis and encouraged the prime minister to send in soldiers.
“If facing them down means mobilizing the military, as aid to the civil power, he should do it, much as he is reluctant to be the second Trudeau to call in the army,” wrote Cohen.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also ruled out using the military to intervene in Ottawa.
The Freedom Convoy entered its 20th day on Friday.
