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The Ontario Provincial Police and the Ottawa Police Service are issuing warnings to residents and protesters on Monday as demonstrations against the federal government’s recent raise of the carbon tax are expected to take place across the country.
A small group of demonstrators were seen by the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge linking Ottawa and Gatineau on Monday morning, but there were no significant traffic interruptions.
Demonstrations organized by the group Nationwide Protest Against Carbon Tax were set to take place at the bridge at 8 a.m. and in front of Parliament Hill at 11 a.m.
Ontario Provincial Police posted to social media reminding residents to be patient during demonstrations and to remind protestors remain lawful, peaceful and safe.
“While the OPP acknowledges and respects the right to lawful, peaceful and safe expressions of opinion, there is no right to restrict or disrupt transportation infrastructure. All Ontarians have a right to free and uninhibited passage within the province of Ontario,” OPP said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Your message can be heard without endangering lives.”
The Ottawa Police Service also issued traffic alerts for the downtown core of Ottawa for the planned demonstrations.
Northbound Metcalfe Street is currently closed between Queen Street and Wellington Street for the protests, according to the City of Ottawa’s traffic map.
Police in the area are directing traffic. The duration of the road closure is unknown.
The bridge was one of 17 locations identified by the group, who are organizing protests along interprovincial borders across Canada.
The group’s website says it hopes to maintain at least one centre lane open for traffic and to continue the event until goals are achieved, “regardless of duration.”
The protests come as the federal government raised the price of carbon from $65 per tonne to $80 per tonne on April 1.
The tax hike has been a significant attack point for conservatives, and several premiers, who have called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cancel the increase.
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