The RCMP spent more than $ 1.6 million during the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa, according to a request for access to CBC information.
The documents also revealed that the force spent an additional $ 1.2 million on police protests in Alberta, mostly on the U.S. border in Coutts, Alta.
In all, the RCMP spent about $ 3 million monitoring the two protests.
The streets of downtown Ottawa were blocked for weeks as thousands of people gathered around Parliament Hill to protest various complaints, from pandemic-related warrants to general contempt for the federal government.
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
Most of the RCMP’s security costs processed by its financial system during the Ottawa protests between January 23 and March 1, according to documents, come from travel.
This price tag, according to RCMP, represents costs in Ottawa for overtime and travel expenses, including meals and lodging, processed by the RCMP financial system. It shows that in addition to spending $ 1,606,175 on travel, the RCMP spent $ 13,000 on accommodation and $ 6,720 on meals.
An independent revelation from the RCMP shows that the Château Laurier hotel in downtown Ottawa was used by force for things like processing arrests during its execution actions against Freedom Convoy protesters.
A summary of the hotel bill on the RCMP indicates $ 234,995.79 to be spent on “events.” The bill also shows that the RCMP spent $ 2,700 on 75 hot breakfast meals at the hotel.
No additional information is provided. Expenditure disclosed by the RCMP does not include regular salary and “indirect costs, including those related to support units.”
Earlier this month, documents released by the city of Ottawa showed that its costs arising from the Freedom Convoy would be around $ 37 million.
Expenses in Alberta
Between January 29 and February 16, the RCMP spent an additional $ 1,209,430 on police in Alberta, most of it on the U.S. border near Coutts.
A slightly more detailed cost of RCMP spending in Alberta was offered. It shows that $ 158,858.24 was spent on overtime for members at the border and $ 34,439.25 on “investigation services.”
RCMP near the Coutts border, Alta., In February. (Nassima Way / CBC)