Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on December 15, 2021. Photo: VCG

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded an end Monday to a protest by hundreds of truckers against COVID-19 restrictions that has paralyzed the capital, as Ottawa's mayor called on federal authorities for support.

"It has to stop," Trudeau said during an emergency debate in the House of Commons on his return to parliament after isolating for a week due to a positive COVID-19 test.

"This pandemic has sucked for all Canadians," the premier said, visibly frustrated over the protests that have brought Ottawa to a standstill for more than a week.

"But Canadians know the way to get through it is continuing to listen to science, continuing to lean on each other."

He pledged federal government support "with whatever resources the province and city need," without elaborating what measures might be planned.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson earlier urged the federal government to send an additional 1,800 police officers and appoint a mediator to work with protesters to "end this siege" that has infuriated local residents with incessant honking and diesel fumes.

On Sunday, Watson declared a state of emergency in the capital, declaring the protests "out of control."

"They don't know what to do with us," said 59-year-old farmer and trucker John Lambert, who was taking part in the protest. "All they've got to do is come to their senses. It's up to them to resolve it."

The "Freedom Convoy" demonstrations began on January 9 in western Canada as protests by truckers angry with vaccine requirements when crossing the US-Canadian border.

They have since morphed into broader protests against COVID-19 health restrictions and Trudeau's government.

Protest organizer Tamara Lich said activists were willing to engage with the government to find a way out of the crisis, but insisted that pandemic restrictions be eased.

With the capital's center blocked and businesses forced to close, police have come under fire for the protracted crisis.

To up the pressure on protesters, police Sunday announced new measures to tame the demonstrations by banning people from bringing fuel and other supplies to the rallies.

Officers have since arrested several people, seized multiple vehicles and issued hundreds of traffic tickets.

Protesters had been raising funds to keep up the protests, but were cut off by fundraising site GoFundMe, which said they had violated its policy against content that "promotes behavior in support of violence."

AFP