Good evening, Mr. Chair, and members. Thank you for inviting me to assist the committee's work in reviewing the declaration of the Emergencies Act.
I've been a city councillor for the Rideau-Vanier ward since 2010. The western boundary of my ward runs along the Rideau Canal to the Chateau Laurier. Parliament and many other federal institutions, which were the focus of the protest, border the neighbourhoods of Sandy Hill, Lowertown, and Vanier, which were the areas hardest hit by the occupation.
I have a few minutes for my remarks and would like to devote that time to informing the committee about the impact the protests had on the residents and businesses in downtown Ottawa.
During the occupation, the impact on residents in my community was unbearable. It severely impacted their well-being, the livability of the ward, and their safety and forced many businesses to close during the occupation.
Upon its arrival, the “freedom convoy” occupation had devastating impacts on our residents and businesses. This was initially felt from the unbearable noise. The protesters used truck horns and train horns almost constantly day and night. Fireworks further added to the constant barrage of noise. The impact of the horns was traumatizing for residents living in my area and those living in the neighbouring ward of Somerset.
At the Public Order Emergency Commission, residents testified as to how the noise had a detrimental impact on their mental and emotional health. Severe sleep deprivation was common. These conditions made the downtown unlivable.
Some people are still traumatized by the experience even now. These concerns were reported to me at the time via hundreds of emails and telephone calls that I received from the businesses and residents affected. The constant engine noise of the trucks parked on our streets and the gases they emitted had an impact on them, and the way the trucks were parked created a chaotic environment that resembled a kind of fortress. In the circumstances, the trucks were being used as a weapon.
I walked the streets of my ward during the protests. I can tell you that the streets of downtown Ottawa were in complete chaos. I witnessed open fires in the streets, the delivery of tanks of fuel to protesters in close proximity to residents and businesses. At the intersection of Rideau and Sussex, right beside the Senate building, protesters set up DJ booths and barbeques. I also saw large trucks driving on residential streets and, in some instances, driving in the wrong direction. In the ByWard Market, which is also in my area, many pickup trucks parked everywhere and anywhere, including on sidewalks, without any consequences: there were no tickets, and no towing. Aside from occupying space in our city and on our walkways, these trucks served another purpose: they represented an assault on our communities through aggressive and intimidating behaviour by people participating in the occupation, which created an environment of chaos and lawlessness.
The chaos forced numerous businesses and institutions in the area to close. This included the Rideau Centre, the Rideau library branch, the University of Ottawa, the Andrew Fleck Child Care Centre, and many others.
The Rideau Centre has historically never had to close more than a day a year. The centre was closed for 24 consecutive days due to this occupation. This meant that 300 stores and more than 1,500 part-time employees were unable to generate income.
For the Rideau Centre, each day represented a loss of revenue of $2 million for the businesses. The closure of the Rideau Centre also compounded the effects on the surrounding Rideau Street and the ByWard Market. Small and independent businesses were severely impacted. Most businesses on Rideau Street and in the ByWard Market were force to close. Although lockdown restrictions were no longer in effect, most of these businesses could not stay open. Groups of protesters were demanding to dine indoors at local restaurants in violation of public health measures and orders. The businesses faced stark choices: close entirely, confront protesters and ask them to leave, or serve them in violation of public health regulations. Many opted to close out of fear.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.