The intention of the Legault government to abandon the vaccine passport within a month and the use of force once morest their colleagues in Ottawa have not dampened the ardor of certain opponents of sanitary measures, who will demonstrate in Quebec on Saturday from 11 a.m.
It is difficult for the moment to estimate the number of people who responded to the invitation issued by the organizers.
About 150 vehicles of all types left Saint-Honoré-de-Shenley, in Beauce, very early this morning, heading for the National Assembly.
Keven Bilodeau, one of the organizers of today’s demonstration, is part of this convoy.
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said Kevin Bilodeau in a video broadcast on Facebook Friday.
Ambiance friendly
and family
He encouraged his followers to invite as many people as possible in front of parliament
.
« If you can’t come to parliament, go to Ottawa. Ottawa is also important. It’s gonna be a great weekend […].It’s going to be friendly [et] familial. »
The organizers of the demonstration proceeded on Friday to set up a stage in front of the parliament building.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin
Today’s demonstration will take place in a somewhat different context from that of two weeks ago. The gatherings of opponents of sanitary measures had coincided with the first weekend of activities of the Carnaval de Québec.
Sector cordoned off
The police once once more used road trucks to block access to certain streets in the Parliament Hill area.
The section of Avenue Honoré-Mercier located between Grande Allée and Boulevard René-Lévesque was closed in particular to prevent vehicles from circulating in front of the National Assembly.
The authorities are once once more using road trucks to block certain arteries in downtown Quebec, in particular on Grande Allée, near the parliament and the Saint-Louis gate (photo).
Photo: Radio-Canada / Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin
Since their first visit to Quebec, some of the demonstrators’ demands, in particular suspension of the vaccine passporthave been answered or are regarding to be.
However, this is not enough in the eyes of the organizers.
Why are we going to Quebec? Because they want to suspend only the vaccine passport until the next wave [de COVID-19]
confided Kevin Grenier to the Baie-Comeau weekly The Manic.
Bernard Gauthier (left) and Kevin Grenier (right) are among the organizers of the event (archives).
Photo : Facebook / Bernard Gauthier
His colleague Keven Bilodeau, for his part, called for an end to the health emergency. It’s not the time to let go […]. Together we are strong […]. We will win
he wrote on Facebook.
Like the other organizers, MM. Grenier and Bilodeau declined to grant interviews to media representatives.
It’s brewing in Ottawa
The Quebec gathering also occurs the day following the arrest, in Ottawa, of numerous demonstrators opposed to sanitary measures. These opponents have occupied the city center of the federal capital for more than three weeks.
On Friday, various police forces joined forces and made dozens of arrests. Many vehicles were also towed.
Police made numerous arrests of protesters in downtown Ottawa on Friday.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Michael Charles Cole
The Quebec City Police Service reiterated its intention to respect the right to demonstrate of opponents of health measures.
Maintain security
However, he warned thatno act of violence, vandalism or criminal offense will be tolerated
.
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the police said.
As they had done during the first protest, city workers blocked access to the Premiers’ Parkway on Parliament Hill with a snowdrift.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin
the SPVQ may, if necessary, use the new powers that the City of Quebec conferred on it this week in anticipation of the demonstration. The regulatory amendments notably authorize the chief of police to order street closures and to decree parking bans.
« As with every event, we will show a certain tolerance as long as the smooth running of the event is not compromised. »
The police will once more ensure that the demonstration does not prevent the free passage of emergency vehicles and public transport.
The SPVQ has closed two sections of Grande Allée and Honoré-Mercier Avenue in the Parliament Hill sector to automobile traffic.
Photo: Quebec City Police Department
For their part, the merchants of downtown Quebec await the return of the demonstrators with a mixture of apprehension and confidence.
According to a survey conducted by the Société de développement commercial (SDC) du Vieux-Québec following the first demonstration, two out of three merchants have fears regarding the return of the demonstrators.
Drop in traffic?
Most fear loss of revenue due to a drop in traffic and the cancellation of reservations.
Despite these apprehensions, the director general of the SDC du Vieux-Québec, Donald Gilbert, affirms that its members have a very high level of confidence in the SPVQ.
In the survey, in terms of satisfaction, it was rave regarding the police department, and they have the same confidence that everything will be handled the same way this weekend.
said Mr. Gilbert in an interview with Radio-Canada.
The director general of the SDC du Vieux-Québec, Donald Gilbert, says that the merchants fear loss of income attributable to the demonstration of the weekend.
Photo: Radio-Canada
He explains that the absence of Carnival goers – whose presence in the city center two weeks ago had made it possible to attenuate the negative impact of the protest
– might be felt.
There is no Carnival factor […]. The last time, especially on [la rue] Saint-Jean, it had been very good, but when we climbed further, it decreased in terms of traffic
specified Donald Gilbert.
Opponents of health measures also plan to demonstrate during the day on Sunday.
With the collaboration of Raphaël Beaumont-Drouin, Pierre-Alexandre Bolduc, Audrey Paris and Marie Maude Pontbriand
