(OTTAWA) Two residents of downtown Ottawa described how the “Freedom Convoy” disrupted their lives Friday during the second day of the Emergency Commission hearing. They described the lawlessness in their neighborhood and the lack of response from police and law enforcement officials.
Posted 6:36am Updated 12:14pm
Mylene Crete La Presse
“I still jump when I hear a loud horn and when I smell gasoline. I have a physical reaction. It’s very distressing,” said Victoria De La Ronde.
This retired officer explained how the constant honking day and night, which could sometimes reach hundreds of decibels, and the sound of the trucks’ engines kept her awake during the three-week demonstration in January and February. This caused her permanent hearing loss and balance problems, and she still gets dizzy when triggered by the sound of a horn.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Victoria De La Ronde
She explained that she rarely went out during the three weeks of the truck convoy because she feared for her safety. Due to a visual impairment, she walks with a white cane. She no longer had access to public transportation, taxis, or the Uber service, and she was unable to get her groceries and medicines delivered.
“Wearing a mask made you a target,” said Zexi Li, a young federal official who became the face of disgruntled citizens by securing an injunction to stop the honking.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Zexi Li
She described how angry residents of her apartment building began throwing eggs at protesters. “The police came to ask questions,” she said. Officers had received a complaint and were investigating the incident when they had protesters blocking downtown, lighting bonfires near jerry cans in the middle of the street, using firecrackers, urinating and defecating on public streets.
“We felt really let down at the time,” she said.
Nathalie Carrier, director of the Vanier Neighborhood Business Improvement Area, where another camp of protesters had been set up, emotionally described comments made by then Ottawa Police Commissioner Peter Sloly during a meeting with traders.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Nathalie Carrier
“I was scared,” she said. The police chief said, “If you’re scared, I’m scared too.” »
She said she witnessed no violent incidents at a store frequented by the protesters but saw a lot of unrest. Zexi Li also claimed not to have witnessed any violent events other than a truck attempting to run her over as she attempted to document the events with her phone.
The Contingency Commission must determine whether the government was correct in using the Contingency Act for the first time in its history to end the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa and blockades of border crossings in other parts of the country. This is one of the guarantees provided for in this law.