Canada's parliament cancels session as police set to clear protests

Canadian lawmakers took the extraordinary step to cancel a parliamentary session Friday, as police readied to clear a weeks-long trucker-led protest against Covid health rules in downtown Ottawa.

It was the first time that Canada's parliament interrupted its work since demonstrators converged on the capital in late January to protest against Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates.

Government House Leader Mark Holland told AFP that lawmakers have "agreed to cancel today's sitting."

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota said in a statement that "a police operation" is expected to take place outside the parliament building and in other locations in downtown Ottawa on Friday.

Due to these "exceptional circumstances" and an "ever-changing" situation in the streets, the House is cancelling its session for the day, Rota said.

A second day of debate on the government's move to invoke rarely-used emergency powers to clear the trucker occupation had been scheduled for Friday. 

Holland said he hopes the discussion could resume on Saturday.

Police on Thursday said action to end the unlawful demonstration was "imminent," as barricades went up to restrict access to the downtown. In the evening two protest leaders were arrested. 

The pair face several charges, including mischief.