'Freedom Convoy' cost downtown Ottawa millions per day, experts estimate

Estimates range from $44 million to $200 million in sales, wage losses

Experts estimate businesses in Ottawa's downtown core lost millions each day in sales and wages during the so-called Freedom Convoy protest, which caused nearly a month of partial and complete closures of businesses.

Retail analysts say total economic damages may range from about $44 million up to $200 million for the 23 days trucks and protesters occupied Centretown streets — from about Jan. 29 until Feb. 20 when police finally moved in to remove them.

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Nabatian, a decades-long retail analyst who's conducted several studies and collected years of sales data from downtown businesses, estimates businesses collectively lost about $900,000 per day, while Rideau Centre shops lost about $2.3 million a day — altogether around a $73 million loss of revenue in the 23 days.

He calls these conservative estimates focused on sales losses, and don't include other costs like rent, insurance, taxes and employee wage support.

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/economic-impact-freedom-convoy-downtown-ottawa-1.6376248