Ottawa police say they are preparing for larger than normal crowds and more protests on Canada Day. Several groups, including another Freedom Convoy, are preparing to descend on the capital on July 1.."The expectation is that this Heritage Canada event will be larger than usual both in terms of crowd size and the footprint of the event.."We are also expecting several large events throughout the Ottawa area to celebrate the day," Ottawa Police Service (OPS) said on Twitter.."These factors, combined with an increased level of protests and demonstrations, are guiding our planning.".OPS said that there will be a major police presence in the city on Canada Day, with extra policing resources being brought in from several services. They also warned of "significant" road closures.."We will not allow for conditions that led to the unlawful protests in February to reoccur. We are applying lessons learned from the unlawful protest as well as the Rolling Thunder and associated protests to build our plan," they said..The OPS were referring to several protests planned for that day, and "other commentary online.".On June 30, James Topp, a veteran marching across Canada in protest of the federal vaccine mandates, will end his cross-country journey at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa. .Topp's march is being supported by the group Veterans 4 Freedom, which was responsible for organizing May's Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally in Ottawa..A spokesperson from Veterans 4 Freedom said construction has begun on a permanent structure for protesters. Located just outside Ottawa, the base will support protests that are expected to take place throughout the summer..Freelance journalist Andy Lee is organizing a mass camp-out on Parliament Hill for Canada Day. "Let’s do the most peaceful, Canadian thing ever on Canada Day in protest," Lee said on Twitter.."Let’s go camping out together. Let’s dance. No convoys, no blockades, just innocent fun to embarrass our government. A protest that they can’t possibly crackdown on," he said..Some of the events planned for Canada Day include a speech by Topp, a "Fringe March" from the Supreme Court to Ottawa City Hall, and a dance party on Parliament Hill..In addition, another Freedom Convoy has plans to enter Ottawa for Canada Day.."1,000s of trucks are making their way back to Ottawa," Canada Day Convoy said on Twitter. "They don't plan on leaving until Justin Trudeau resigns.".The Canada Day Convoy said the protest will be "100% peaceful," and will not tolerate any racism, anti-Semitism, harassment, violence, or illegal activity. "Offenders will be removed from the protest by security and reported to police," they said..The convoy is asking the Liberal government to lift all remaining vaccine mandates and give back-pay for fired federal workers, as well as for Justin Trudeau to resign and "surrender himself to the RCMP.".It is not yet known how many vehicles will be involved in the convoy. OPS, however, indicated they will not allow a convoy to enter and occupy the city like it did back in February.."At the City’s request, we will continue an approach that prohibits vehicle-based protests in areas in and around places of national significance."
