Massive Anti-Abortion Protest Shuts Down Canada's Capital Today

Today's Canada's biggest anti-abortion protest, March for Life in Ottawa is completely closing down roads and clogging up the city's downtown area. The annual event is the nation's largest pro-life rally and protest with tens of thousands of Canadians marching in downtown Ottawa. 

This year's protest is expected to be even bigger since 2019 marks the 50-year anniversary of abortion being legal in Canada. That year, Pierre Elliot Trudeau passed officially passed a bill that decriminalized abortion in Canada. Now 50 years later, the March For Life is telling his son, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to change that. 

The March for Life kicks off just after noon, with a huge rally on Parliament Hill at 12:30 PM EST. According to the organization's website, "the Rally on Parliament Hill... gives Canadians an opportunity to hear from political, cultural and spiritual leaders, motivating them with personal stories, messages of hope and a call to action on how we can restore a culture of life in Canada." 

Then at 1:30 PM EST the march it's self begins. The march will go throughout Ottawa's streets 3 PM EST when they are expected to return to Parliament Hill for a concert, another rally, and a closing prayer service. 

Obviously, abortion is a major debate issue in Canada and the world, but no matter what side you stand on one thing about this march is certain, it's going to create a traffic nightmare, especially since it falls during the afternoon commute. 

Ottawa Police issued a statement yesterday advising commuters of rolling road closures in the city. While they don't highlight which roads exactly will be closed, they say "Ottawa Police officers will be closing affected roads and ensuring public safety starting at 1:00pm. The march is expected to conclude with a return of protestors to Parliament Hill at approx. 3:00pm." 

They continue, saying "following the march, commuters should continue to expect traffic delays on Wellington Street as protestors will remain on the Hill until approx. 5:00pm and an influx of buses may impede traffic and public transit."

Ottawa Police is asking anyone who regularly commutes through the Wellington Street area or by Parliament Hill to consider alternate routes home. The road closures will be in place now until 5 PM today.