Several lanes were shut down until the protesters could be removed, the OPP said. X / @OttFire
On Tuesday morning, three protesters climbed onto highway signs in eastern Ontario, causing significant traffic delays and a multi-vehicle crash, according to police reports.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stated that emergency crews were dispatched to Highway 417 at Woodroffe Avenue in Ottawa shortly before 9 a.m. The protesters scaled signs in both directions of the highway and displayed banners, as confirmed by the OPP.
Images shared on social media by Ottawa Fire Services showed banners with the words “last generation” in both English and French. The climate activist group Last Generation Canada appears to have claimed responsibility for the demonstration through a post on their website.
The post detailed the group's activities since 2023, which include disrupting the Juno Awards, painting on museum exhibits, throwing paint on artworks, and causing traffic disruptions. The group is advocating for several demands, including the establishment of a national firefighting agency, and has vowed to continue their nonviolent disruptive actions throughout the summer until their demands are met.
