Protesters block street in front of B.C. legislature demanding end to COVID-19 restrictions
CTV
Anti-mandate protesters returned to the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Saturday for the fourth straight weekend, blocking traffic on Belleville Street in solidarity with the self-described "Freedom Convoy" that has occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks.
Images from the scene show hundreds of protesters in the street and on the lawn of the legislature building.
Several large trucks were also parked on Belleville Street, one of them holding a crane from which a Canadian flag was flown.
Numerous other flags could be seen among the crowd, along with signs demanding freedom and directing profanity at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
As they have for each of the last three weeks, Victoria police set up temporary surveillance cameras around the legislature ahead of Saturday's protests.
The Victoria Police Department said in a statement Friday that it sees its role during protests as ensuring public safety and protecting the right to protest peacefully and lawfully.
"Dangerous and/or unlawful acts will be met with de-escalation and enforcement," VicPD said in its statement.
"This enforcement may include the issuing of violation tickets under the Motor Vehicle Act."
The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board, which oversees VicPD, also issued a statement on Friday. The board echoed the department's commitment to supporting people's rights to peacefully protest.
The Montreal Victoire ended its preparatory mini-tournament as host team on a positive note with a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Charge on Friday afternoon at the Espace Denis-Savard rink in the Verdun Auditorium.
Annie Gallant, a 10-year-old from Nova Scotia, brought home a special gift from her first concert.
A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off.
The operators of the Bruce Nuclear Plant near Kincardine just donated $1 million towards Huron County’s largest affordable housing project in years.
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien is calling the federal government's proposed GST holiday and $250 rebate cheques a 'targeted approach' to address affordability concerns.
Photo radar cameras have caught nearly 300,000 speeders on Ottawa roads so far this year, as the City of Ottawa prepares to expand the automated speed enforcement camera program to another 39 locations over the next 14 months.
As NATO officials met up in Montreal, pro-Palestinian protesters flooded downtown in solidarity with those in Gaza.
Ottawa seniors will be facing a 60 per cent hike in transit fares in 2025, instead of a 120 per cent increase, under a new plan to halve a proposed hike in fares for riders over the age of 65.
Layoffs could be imminent for the Victoria Police Department if it adheres to the requests of the City of Victoria, and cuts over $2 million from its budget.
Snowplows will be on standby ready to go as the province is expected to get more snow over the weekend.
Saskatoon's new downtown shelter must undergo renovations before it can open, according to the operator of the site.