The police have gradually begun removing the barriers since their implementation last week.

Businesses in Ottawa have reopened, the light rail service is operational again, and the safe zone in downtown is shrinking.

However, there are still checkpoints to ensure that illegal protesters do not return.

The criminologist believes this will be the last weekend of this situation, as residents will be asked to mention the reasons for their presence or movement within the area.

For his part, Michael Kemba, Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University of Ottawa, said: "I expect the situation to probably start improving after this weekend."

He explained that it will depend on how things go over the next weekend, but residents are likely to be able to move freely soon.

Kemba added that measures were taken during the enforcement of the emergency law, but Ottawa police will still be able to manage any protesters effectively even after the law is repealed.

He says: "They have powers to control crowds in the Ontario Police Services Act, in the regular criminal law."