The federal government will cover policing costs incurred during the Freedom Convoy protest earlier this year, the Ottawa Police Service says.
The cost of the police response to the three-week-long protests in downtown Ottawa is estimated at $35 million, with additional costs still being realized, according to a financial status report for the Ottawa Police Service Board submitted on April 25.
The report says “the OPS has been informed by the federal government that it will receive additional funding through its National Capital Extraordinary Policing Costs program to offset all costs incurred by the OPS” due to the demonstrations.
The protest began in opposition to the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers crossing back into Canada from the United States. As massive convoys of trucks arrived at the nation’s capital on Jan. 29, it spurred a national movement of supporters calling for an end to all pandemic-related restrictions and inspired similar protests worldwide.
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