The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) has warned parents in the Freedom Convoy to “make the necessary alternate care arrangements should they become unable to care for their children following potential police action.”
According to estimates, over 100 truckers have brought their children along for the demonstrations.
“CASO has a mandate to protect a child when their parent becomes unavailable to exercise their custodial rights over the child and the parent has not made adequate provision for the child’s care and custody,” said the organization in a press release on Wednesday.
If parents and children are separated following police action, CASO said that they would work to reunite families as soon as possible.
The warning from CASO comes after Ottawa Police had called child protective services last week to advise them on how to deal with children present in the trucker convoy.
“Almost 25 per cent of the 418 trucks have children living in them — children who could be at risk during a police operation,” said OPS then deputy chief Steven Bell.
Ottawa By-law and Regulatory Services has also notified any Freedom Convoy protesters with pets that their animals would be taken away, even permanently, if arrests take place.
“If you are unable to care for your animal as a result of enforcement actions, your animal will be placed into protective care for 8 days, at your cost,” said Ottawa By-law in a tweet on Thursday. “After eight days, if arrangements are not made, your animal will be considered relinquished.”
These warnings come as police ramp up threats of enforcement in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s implementation of the Emergencies Act on Monday.
Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history to provide the federal government with extra powers to manage the trucker protests.
“It is now clear that there are serious challenges to law enforcement’s ability to effectively enforce the law,” said Trudeau.
Trudeau added that the Act would give police more power to break up gatherings deemed illegal and dangerous, including blockades and occupations.
The RCMP, he said, would be able to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial offences where needed.
The Freedom Convoy entered its 26th day on Thursday.
