The unprecedented mobilization against the Canadian government's health policy, called "Freedom Convoy", paralyzed the center of Ottawa (Ontario) for 24 days.

The police had almost regained control of the city on Sunday, February 20.

Authorities arrested 190 protesters and towed nearly 80 vehicles.

Since the end of January, hundreds of truckers have camped outside the seat of Parliament to oppose the obligation to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to cross the Franco-Canadian border.

Spraying the protesters with pepper spray, destroying the makeshift shelters in which some had taken refuge, the police raised their voices at the start of the weekend, believing that it was time for the demonstrators to leave.

After having dislodged the majority of them, a fence was installed around the Parliament.

The authorities, however, warned on Sunday that a police operation was "still in progress".

“We promised this week that we would free our streets and give them back to our residents,” Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said at a press conference.

"Every hour that passes brings us closer to this goal."

Only a handful of demonstrators were still present in the streets of the center on Sunday.

Refusing to admit defeat, many of them assured that they would continue to press for a total lifting of the anti-Covid restrictions in the country, which are among the strictest in the world.

Some of them have been relaxed in recent days.

A growing movement

The evolution of the situation rejoiced, on Sunday, some residents of Ottawa who began to venture into the streets of the center again.

"The last few weeks have been absolute hell," Dave Chapin told AFP about the protesters.

"I am very happy to be back in my city", abounds in turn Jeff Lindley, happy that the "calm" has finally returned.

While it appears to have returned to Ottawa, this historic protest movement could have lasting effects on Canadian politics.

And he inspired other protesters beyond the country's borders, including in France and New Zealand.

Police in the US capital Washington also said they were preparing for the arrival of a convoy of truckers at the time of Joe Biden's traditional address to the nation in the US Congress, scheduled for March 1.

In anticipation, a fence could be installed around the Capitol.

With AFP

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