Protests in Ottawa and Alberta cost RCMP millions, documents show

The RCMP spent more than $1.6 millionduring the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa,according to a CBCaccess to information request.

Documents also revealed the force spent another$1.2 million on policing protests in Alberta, the majority at the U.S. border in Coutts, Alta.

In total, the RCMP spent nearly $3 million policing the two protests.

Ottawa's downtown streets were deadlocked forweeks as thousands converged around Parliament Hill to protest several grievances, from pandemic-related mandates to general disdain for the federal government.

Police were eventually able to successfully remove protestersand tow trucks and other vehicles clogging key downtown arteries.

The majority of theRCMP's security costs processed by its financial system during the Ottawa protestsbetween Jan. 23 and March1,according to the documents, is from travel.

That price tag, according to RCMP, represents costs in Ottawa for overtime and travel expenditures, including meals and accommodations, processed by the RCMP financial system. It shows in addition to spending $1,606,175 on travel, the RCMP spent $13,000 on accommodations and$6,720 on meals.

A separate disclosure from the RCMP showsthe Chteau Laurier hotel in downtown Ottawawas used by the force for things likeprocessing arrestsduring its enforcement actions against Freedom Convoy protesters.

An invoice summary from the hotel to the RCMPlists$234,995.79 being spent on "events." The bill also shows the RCMP spent $2,700 on 75 hot breakfast buffet meals at the hotel.

No additional information is provided.Spending disclosed by the RCMP does not include regular salary and "indirect costs, including those related to supporting units."

Earlier this month, documents released by the city of Ottawa showed its costs stemming from the Freedom Convoy would be in the range of $37 million.

Spending in Alberta

Between Jan. 29 and Feb. 16, the RCMP spent an additional $1,209,430 on policing inAlberta, the bulk of it at the U.S border near Coutts.

A slightly more detailed costing of RCMPspending in Alberta was provided. It shows $158,858.24 was spent on overtime for members at the border and $34,439.25 on "investigational services."