The chief of the Fredericton Police Force believes protests against COVID-19 mandates held at the New Brunswick legislature over the weekend unfolded just as he had hoped.
Roughly 1,000 people and 300 vehicles gathered on the legislature grounds over the weekend as part of the “Freedom Convoy,” a national protest that calls for the provincial and federal governments to lift COVID-19 public health measures.
Chief Roger Brown told reporters Monday afternoon officers allowed protestors to hold their demonstration while ensuring safety for businesses and residents. He said bringing in resources from neighbouring areas and thought out planning paid off.
“Yes, there were arrests made; yes, there were charges, but that was dealing with individuals who chose not to comply and to step outside that whole notion of peacefully protesting in and around the city,” said Brown.
Brown said New Brunswick’s Emergency Measures Act helped officers during the demonstration. He said officers on the ground could communicate with protestors to ensure they respected road closures and noise bylaws.
Deputy Police Chief Martin Gaudet said three people were arrested under the Emergency Measures Act. Some of those arrests involved protestors who caused a disturbance or used their vehicles to block roadways.
He said there were also fines for squealing car tires, loud horns and fireworks.
Brown said more charges could be laid as further details come to light.
As of noon on Monday, Brown said the force scaled Emergency Operations Centre measures down to Level 1, and the vast majority of outside resources have since left the city. He said there are still more local officers on duty than usual, but it is scaling back slowly.
There remains a handful of protestors at the legislature.
Brown says while there’s no indication that protests will continue, the force remains prepared.
“If there’s intelligence or information that leads us to believe that the same thing could happen, then we can do the exact same thing again,” he said.
Brown said he is grateful that the province takes the situation seriously to invoke the Emergency Measures Act. He added there is a need to balance the right to protest and taking part in illegal activity.
“Our goal is not to charge people. People protest peacefully; everybody goes home. It’s a non-event,” said Brown.
“There’s always a small group of people that choose to push the limit and when that crosses the line, there are provisions to deal with it.”
