Truckers aren't a unique group of people in this setting. Canadian police forces are trained in de-escalation techniques and learned all their lessons from the Oka crisis in 1990. There are a lot of protesters (about 8000 but in a small area it seems like more) but not thousands of trucks (more like a few hundred at best). It's not as big as you seem to think it is, but it's big enough to paralyze the capital's core and disrupt the lives of people living there. The cops have contingency plans and putting the resources in place for all eventualities, not to mention situations change so they need to adapt accordingly. But the general sense is things are going to fizzle, but it needs to be done in a way that minimizes violence and destruction of property which local merchants are afraid might happen (and rightfully so). These types of demonstrations tend to attract the crazies. Hell, just last night there was an
alleged attempt at burning down an apartment building; a building from which some habitants were yelling at protesters to leave and go home from their windows and balconies. The amount of police complaints are escalating, and more and more tickets are being issued. The fact that things are starting to get a little hotter are indicative that the pressure is being put on them. They're not "winning". The government hasn't lifted any measures yet, and we are sensing, as I mentioned, the cops increasing their pressure on the group. The mayor of Ottawa declared a state of emergency late last night knowing that many have already left to go home with many wanting to come back next weekend. Do you think that was a coincidence? Things are going to shake up this week and these chuds are going to complain that they lost their freedom, but the residents of downtown Ottawa will hopefully regain theirs.