Ottawa Police making preparations for potential protests on convoy anniversary

Ottawa Police is continuing to monitor the potential for vehicle-based protests happening in or travelling through Ottawa between now and mid-February.

This comes one year after the so-called "freedom convoy" paralyzed downtown Ottawa. According to the Ottawa Police Service, there were from 5,000 to 18,000 occupiers in the downtown core on January 29, 2022.

Over the coming days, residents and businesses will see an increased police presence from time to time in the downtown core and surrounding areas.

Police said there is no specific information to indicate that there will be large-scale demonstrations or protests in Ottawa but the potential for some level of protests exists.

Several resources are on standby and police say that they will not allow the conditions to occur that resulted in the February 2022 convoy.