Politics This Morning: Ottawa bylaw officers enforce vehicle control zone ahead of Canada Day

Good Thursday morning, Ottawa’s police forces are putting their Canada Day plans into effect as they prepare for the dual challenge of the return of traditional in-person celebrations and the return of the Freedom Convoy and its various offshoots. CBC News reports that the nationally-broadcast stage show will take place in the plaza in front of the Canadian War Museum this year because of ongoing construction on Parliament Hill. Ottawa’s interim police chief, STEVE BELL, says his officers will allow “legal protests” while shutting down any attempts to set up structures or speakers that would facilitate another long-term occupation. The city has already implemented a motor vehicle control zone that is intended to prevent protesters from using trucks and other vehicles to re-establish an entrenched presence in the downtown core. CTV News reported that city bylaw officers issued 120 parking tickets and towed 28 vehicles yesterday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the first day of vehicle restrictions. Authorities have installed additional barriers along Wellington Street in preparation for expected 'freedom movement' demonstrations in the Parliamentary Precinct on Canada Day. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Reporters looking to experience the more artistic side of the horses that served as shock cavalry in February’s co-ordinated police action might try heading to the RCMP’s Musical Ride grounds at Sandridge Road in Ottawa. From 11 a.m. onwards, the RCMP has invited the media to observe preparations for the first public shows at the musical ride grounds since before the pandemic. According to an RCMP press release, this year’s performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Trudeau welcomes Finland and Sweden’s invitation to join NATO Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU will wrap up his third leaders’ summit in a row with a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister PEDRO SÁNCHEZ. Trudeau and his team have been on an extended road trip that took them to Rwanda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, then to Germany for the G7 leaders’ summit, and then to Spain for NATO meetings. Trudeau’s office released a statement yesterday welcoming Finland and Sweden to NATO, after the military alliance formally invited the two countries to join it. CNN reported that the decision would now go to the legislatures of the 30 member states for final ratification. Trudeau said Canada would support the two previously non-aligned nations as they go through the process, and added that the House of Commons has already voted unanimously in favour of the two nations joining NATO. The Council on Foreign Relations has said that bringing in Finland would more than double the length of NATO’s land border with Russia, adding roughly 800 miles (1,200 kilometres). The two countries have participated in joint military exercises with NATO in the past, but a formal alliance means increased integration. Finland has a relatively small regular army, but an enormous reserve force born out of necessity over its long border with Russia. What else is happening today? Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET will spend the day in the riding of Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, Que., alongside local Bloc MP MAXIME BLANCHETTE-JONCAS. DAN VANDAL, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, will be at Calgary’s Stampede Park at 10 a.m. local time to announce federal support for tourism and events in southern Alberta. The president of the Calgary Stampede, the executive director of Tourism Calgary, and Calgary Liberal MP GEORGE CHAHAL will be present as well. This year’s Stampede is scheduled to run from July 8 to 17, with the Calgary Herald reporting that sponsors that stayed away in previous years because of the pandemic are coming back. Carleton University will host a webinar at noon Ottawa time about “the role large corporations and their political and cultural allies” have played in generating the climate crisis and in legitimizing our continued reliance on carbon. The event will be led by WILLIAM CARROLL, a critical sociologist at the University of Victoria. Families Minister KARINA GOULD will make an announcement about electric vehicle charging infrastructure in her Burlington, Ont., riding at 1 p.m. local time. A press release from Baseload Power Corp. says this will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official launch of the company’s electric vehicle charging network, which has received $3.5-million in funding from Natural Resources Canada. Indigenous Services Minister and Thunder Bay MP PATTY HAJDU will make two announcements in Thunder Bay, Ont., today, on behalf of Infrastructure Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC. Hajdu will be at the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre at 2 p.m. local time, followed by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery at 3:30 p.m. local time. Photo of the Day Parliamentary Protective Services officers check bags and scan visitors entering Parliament Hill on June 29, 2022, in preparation for expected demonstrations in the Parliamentary Precinct on Canada Day.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade In The Hill Times Author and longtime press gallery reporter DALE SMITH tells PETER MAZEREEUW that the government’s move to extend hybrid sittings until June 2023 could further erode the collegiality and relationships that help Parliament function effectively. kphilipupillai@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Ottawa bylaw officers enforce vehicle control zone ahead of Canada Day

Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wraps up his NATO meetings by welcoming Finland and Sweden’s formal invitation to join the military alliance.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Ottawa bylaw officers enforce vehicle control zone ahead of Canada Day

Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wraps up his NATO meetings by welcoming Finland and Sweden’s formal invitation to join the military alliance.

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