Police prepared for another potential protest this weekend: Savage

‘As long as there’s no disruption to people’s lives and to the businesses in the city, then that’s the right people have,’ Halifax’s mayor says

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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The mayor of Halifax says officials are ready to respond to another potential protest this weekend.

Mike Savage told CityNews Halifax there has been talk on social media of another event following last weekend’s convoy through the city.

Last Sunday afternoon’s “slow-rolling” protest was said to be in support the “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa.

While the protest was loud and involved a lot of honking, organizers had asked participants to obey all traffic rules, use their four-way flashers and allow other vehicles to merge in and out of the convoy when necessary.

“As long as there’s no disruption to people’s lives and to the businesses in the city, then that’s the right people have,” the mayor said.

“We’ll see what happens, but we’re not going to have the downtown shut down.”

Savage said he and Halifax CAO Jacques Dubé are in contact with Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella on a daily basis.

“The chief and his folks are working with the RCMP and using some of the tools the provincial government has given in terms of preventing the blocking of streets and traffic,” he explained.

“Everybody is working together to allow people to protest and have their point of view, but not shut down life or commerce in the city.”

Last Friday, the province issued a directive under the Emergency Management Act to prohibit protesters from blocking or disrupting traffic on any road, street or highway in Nova Scotia.

A similar directive was issued the week before related to blocking Highway 104 near the New Brunswick border.

Those in violation face a potential fine ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 for individuals and between $20,000 and $100,000 for a corporation.

Blocking a road or highway is also an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.