Police confident convoy protesters near Manitoba Legislature will leave by Wednesday deadline
CBC
Winnipeg police say they're confident people at a protest that's been outside the Manitoba Legislative Building for nearly three weeks will head out by a Wednesday evening deadline, though they're planning for the possibility that doesn't happen.
Const. Rob Carver said Winnipeg police have plans for dealing with semi-trailers, farm equipment and other vehicles if they're not moved from the Memorial Boulevard and Broadway area on the north side of the legislature.
"I can assure you that we have plans in place should that present itself as a concern," said Carver during a police news conference Wednesday morning. "But I am not prepared to discuss what those are."
Winnipeg police notified protest organizers on Tuesday that they would have to leave the Broadway and Memorial Boulevard area by 5 p.m. today or face charges and other enforcement penalties.
Protesters have had semi-trailer trucks, farm equipment and other vehicles blocking sections of Memorial Boulevard north of the legislature since Feb. 4.
The Winnipeg protest was the subject of dozens of noise complaints from nearby residents. Carver said Wednesday "lots of them were repeat complaints from a relatively small group."
"That's not to minimize the impact that the noise has had on those citizens or in anyway try to delegitimize their complaints," Carver said.
He said he is aware some people have complained about being "accosted" by protesters but said generally, that's not what police have seen.
Officers he has spoken with stationed nearby say "this is one of the most reasonable and most welcoming group of protesters they've encountered," Carver said.
Some participants were seen packing up and leaving the area Tuesday night.
The protest is part of a series of protests across the country that have included blockades at ports of entry at the Canada-U.S. border.
The protests started against a federal vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers, but broadened to include demands for an end to all pandemic restrictions and protections, with some protesters calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.
Winnipeg protest organizers said in a statement Wednesday morning that they will move vehicles off Memorial Boulevard and Broadway.
However, protesters intend to stay in Memorial Park, organizers said.
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