Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino warned Wednesday that those joining convoy protests in Ottawa risk being connected to "dangerous criminal activity."

At the start of the week, the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time since its passage in 1988. The move gives the government new powers to address anti-vaccine mandate protesters tying the city in knots — including the authority to ban travel to protest zones and prohibit people from bringing minors to unlawful assemblies.

The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa put out a statement Wednesday urging parents at the demonstration to make alternate care arrangements "should they become unable to care for their children following potential police action."

"CASO has a mandate to protect a child when their parent becomes unavailable to exercise their custodial rights over the child and the parent has not made adequate provision for the child's care and custody," said the statement.

"If parents and children are separated following police efforts in ending the demonstration in the downtown core, CASO will work to reunite families as soon as possible."