Hill won't be a fortress this Canada Day, but it will be safe, mayor says

Parliament Hill won't be turned into a "fortress" this Canada Day, but it will be secure during the larger-than-usual celebration marking the country's 150th birthday, Ottawa's mayor says.

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Jim Watson and police Chief Charles Bordeleau provided an update Friday at Ottawa City Hall about security preparations for the weekend of Canada Day.

Watson, who had earlier been briefed by senior emergency services officials, said he anticipates half a million people on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day, a much larger crowd than the average of about 350,000.

We want people to have a great time but we also want people to have a safe time and make sure there are no significant incidents.- Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson

With that, and the constant threat of terrorist attack, comes the need for extra precautions, Watson said.

"We want people to have a great time but we also want people to have a safe time and make sure there are no significant incidents," he said, citing recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom.

"We do have to recognize that we live in a world that has changed dramatically over the last decade, where there are people that want to do evil deeds and harm our citizens," he said.

"So what we've tried to do is work with all of our partners to ensure we're not creating a fortress where people cannot even get to the Hill, but at the same time as they go on the Hill they are going to have to get screened."

Security checkpoints

Bordeleau said the public can expect a strong police and security presence, with Ottawa police fanned out across the city and RCMP leading the security checkpoints on the hill.

Bordeleau declined to go into specifics about what measures will be in place, but said more officers will be on duty than last year. 

By moving the checkpoints down to Wellington Street this year, more people will be able to fit on the lawn of Parliament Hill. Traffic on Wellington will be reduced from four lanes to two lanes before closing entirely for Canada Day and We Day on July 2.

We continue to ask the public to remain alert, not alarmed, and report any suspicious activities.- Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau

While revellers will be allowed to carry backpacks onto the Hill, all bags will be checked. Bordeleau encouraged people to report any unattended bags to police.

"We continually work with our intelligence partners to assess and reassess our plans based on world events," said Bordeleau, who noted the current national threat level set by the federal government is medium.

"We continue to ask the public to remain alert, not alarmed, and report any suspicious activities."

Expect delays, plan ahead

Watson said the larger crowds and security checkpoints mean it will take longer for people to get to Parliament Hill on the weekend. He advised people to plan ahead, and to arrive early to mitigate delays.

The city is expected to release a more detailed list of road closures for the weekend in the coming days. The security measures for Canada Day are also expected to be discussed at next week's meeting of the city's community and protective services committee.

During New Year's Eve celebrations, Ottawa placed front-end loaders and dump trucks at key cross streets to protect a human chain of hundreds of school children carrying torches to mark the start of 2017 and the Canada 150 festivities.

That extra precaution came in response to a truck attack in December at a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people and injured dozens more.

Bordeleau wouldn't comment on whether similar measures will be in place for Canada Day, but said barricades can be "an added element that helps reinforce the safety of an event taking place."