Free Republic

There are between 400 and 500 vehicles illegally parked downtown, and the the tow truck operators on contract to the city won't move them. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) The tow trucks operators on contract to the City of Ottawa are taking a hard pass on requests to haul vehicles out of protest areas, according to the city's top public servant. "I've contacted them all and they're all refusing, as of today, to provide heavy tow truck work," city manager Steve Kanellakos told reporters Monday evening after a six-hour special council meeting. "Right now we're reviewing their contracts or standing offer,...

As the anti-pandemic rule protest in Ottawa continues into its second week, many residents in the downtown core say they have been living a nightmare, constantly under siege and with many terrified to leave their homes — except to seek refuge elsewhere. Residents described being bombarded by relentless honking, fireworks, being choked by diesel fumes, seeing hate symbols openly displayed, subjected to racial, homophobic and transphobic slurs, attacked for wearing masks, and feeling let down by all levels of government and police since the first vehicles set up Jan. 28. While there may be some reprieve to the horns after...