Ottawa police calling in the Mounties for Canada Day backup
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City police are seeking special constable status for up to 491 Royal Canadian Mounted Police to help patrol around Canada Day — when more “freedom movement” protests are expected alongside the celebrations — and during “other major events” through the end of November.
The Ottawa Police Services Board will be asked at a Monday meeting to extend existing special constable status to up to 291 RCMP employees and to approve the appointment of as many as 200 more to be called in “as the need arises through this event.”
Special constable status will “allow these officers to undertake the full scope of their duties,” Ottawa police said in a report to the board.
The Canada Day events are June 27 to July 4, but the appointments and re-appointments would be valid until Nov.30.
In April, the board approved the appointment of up to 831 RCMP employees who could be made available as reinforcements during the “Rolling Thunder” biker rally.
Ottawa police asked the Police Services Board not to post the names of the RCMP members “in accordance with operational security requirements.”
Ottawa police would normally ask Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General first, “but, under urgent circumstances,” is seeking ministry and board approval simultaneously to speed up the swearing-in.
Ottawa police is also asking the board to delegate authority to chair Eli El-Chantiry and vice-chair Suzanne Valiquet, to approve any other requests for special constable status.
“This will allow the OPS to respond to emerging resource needs for the duration of the event.”
City police said last week that they expected both a bigger than usual Canada Day celebration and an uptick in protests and demonstrations with a plan for a “major” boost in officers’ numbers and backup from several other police forces.
In a release, the force alluded to the “Freedom Convoy” that paralyzed the core for three weeks over the winter.
“We will not allow for conditions that led to the unlawful protests in February to reoccur. We are applying lessons learned from the unlawful protest as well as the ‘Rolling Thunder’ and associated protests to build our plan,” police said.
“Freedom” protesters are expected to return to the core for anti-vaccine mandate events on June 30 and Canada Day.
The City of Ottawa has announced a “motor vehicle control zone” will be in effect from June 29 to July 4.
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