With another protest planned, Haligonians asked to avoid unnecessary travel Saturday

Haligonians are being asked to avoid unnecessary travel Saturday.

Posts on social media indicate a “freedom convoy” will take place in the city.

“While we can not speak to the specifics of our operational deployments, but we can confirm that multiple groups have noted they will be headed to Halifax for a protest from different parts of Nova Scotia,” said Halifax Regional Police spokesperson John MacLeod at a news conference Friday afternoon.

“We can't speaks to the specifics or the exact timing of these activities, but we can confirm that we expect these events to have an impact throughout the day.”

MacLeod said his officers will aim to ensure public safety while trying to minimize disruptions.

“We ask everyone's cooperation and patience as we respond to tomorrow's events, and please avoid unnecessary travel,” he requested.

“Second, we remind all members of the public and attendees to follow the rules and requirements, whether they're related to COVID-19 emergency measures, the Motor Vehicle Act, marine laws, or other violations.”

MacLeod said officers prefer to engage with those they encounter, but they won't hesitate to enforce the laws if necessary, adding all participants must make room for emergency vehicles.

“We acknowledge that the events tomorrow will cause inconvenience for businesses and residents,” he stated. “We are asking everyone who plans to attend to show consideration during an already challenging time.”

MacLeod said people can monitor Halifax Regional Police social media accounts for updates throughout the day.

Last Sunday afternoon's “slow-rolling” convoy throughout the city was loud and involved a lot of honking. Organizers had asked participants to obey all traffic rules.

However, MacLeod said one driver and one pedestrian were issued a number of summary offence tickets.