Anti-abortion protest, march downtown to tie up traffic Thursday

March for Life protesters in downtown Ottawa on May 11, 2017. (Howard Whiting/Lightchasers.ca)

Editor’s note: The annual March for Life rally and march is scheduled to take place between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday. It will include a rally on Parliament Hill followed by a march along Wellington Street.

The Ottawa Police Service would like to advise commuters to expect traffic disruptions tomorrow afternoon in the Downtown core as a demonstration is expected to take place starting on Parliament Hill around 12:00pm.

The demonstration is expected to continue until approx. 5:00pm and will include a march Downtown.

Protesters will be marching starting at approx. 1:30pm until 4:00pm. As such, 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.

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.

Commuters are asked to use alternate routes for their afternoon drive home.