Protesters begin to gather, some schools closed as Fredericton awaits crowd

Protesters began to gather outside the New Brunswick Legislature on Friday, as a heavy police presence stood by in response to threats by opponents of COVID-19 restrictions to create an Ottawa-style protest in downtown Fredericton.

Protest organizers called on supporters from across the province to drive to the legislature on Queen Street in early afternoon. By 1 p.m., there were nearly 100 protesters, waiting for convoys to arrive from other parts of the province. 

According to a flyer shared online, the goal is to create "gridlock" in the city, with participants encouraged to sleep in their vehicles, similar to what protesters have done in downtown Ottawa for the past two weeks.

It's a plan that Fredericton police Chief Roger Brown said his force is ready to counter, with barricades blocking vehicle access to areas around the legislature, along with checkpoints blocking trucks from entering the downtown if they're not going there for business reasons.

Barricades were put up Thursday blocking vehicle access to the street in front of the legislature.

Brown said additional officers from across the province were coming into the city to assist as needed.

As protesters gathered at various locations outside the city on Friday morning before making their way downtown, police set up several checkpoints leading into the city, including on Lincoln Road and Kimble Drive.

About 25 vehicles left the Saint John meeting area at about 11:30 a.m. As they pulled out, there didn't appear to be any transport trucks in the convoy.

Other groups were trying to make alternative plans as word spread that trucks would not be allowed into downtown Fredericton unless they could prove they had official business there. That prompted one of the organizers to encourage truckers to get fake delivery orders in order to access the downtown area.  

Mike Babineau, president of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said businesses in the area submitted a list of their expected deliveries for the day to police, to help police control who goes into the area.

Babineau said owners don't mind if expected deliveries are not permitted in the downtown core until Monday.

By noon, no large trucks were visible in the downtown area, just passenger vehicles and a short school bus. About two dozen protesters gathered — some honking horns — but were still outnumbered by police and other Public Safety officers.

Around the same time, things were still quiet at the Lincoln Big Stop, which was supposed to be a main meet-up point for participants. Before the convoy left for Fredericton, police officers arrived and talked to protesters about keeping the peace. 

Fredericton police were warning people on social media to avoid the protest area unless absolutely necessary.