Here is what this Legislature encampment member is saying after getting eviction notices
A member of the encampments on the Manitoba Legislature grounds handed eviction notices says they plan on staying put and fighting the move.
Occupants of two encampments have been told they must leave and remove their tents and belongings in one week. On Wednesday, police and provincial officials attended the camps and handed out eviction notices for August 23.
The group on the east side of the Legislature has been there for more than a year. That encampment was set up to honour the lives of children buried at former residential school sites. Members vowed to stay there until all of the bodies are found across Canada.
Billy, a member of the east encampment who did not want his last name used, said he and others there are disappointed by the notice and say they are peaceful and not bothering anyone.
He said they are not going anywhere.
“We’re going to stay, we’re going to fight for this,” Billy said. “We’re going to have pretty much a rally or protest about this, they shouldn’t be doing this.”
The eviction notice says the encampment is in violation of a new law banning people from erecting permanent structures and occupying a tent or portable shelter on the grounds.
That law comes after multiple protests on the grounds, including the weeks-long trucker protest earlier this year which blocked traffic around the legislature, and the protests on Canada Day 2021 where the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth statues were toppled outside the legislature.
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said the law aims to ensure everyone's safety including those working in the Legislative building and those protesting outside of it.
"Obviously, we want to be open to protesters – that is their right to be here on the Legislative grounds but we want to ensure safety first," she said.
"It is not a place to be staying overnight. It is a place for peaceful protest. We believe that, but again, it is going to be up to law enforcement as to how they go about moving that along."
In a statement to CTV News, the provincial Justice Department said justice officials are in constant communication with law enforcement and are the lead on all interactions with the encampments. It confirmed the eviction notices were issued Wednesday to the encampments on the grounds.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.
McDonald's customers left with 'zero value' collection of free hot drink stickers after company ends program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Getting the lowest mortgage rates in a high interest rate world
The challenges facing home buyers mean it's all the more important to do research and negotiate on rates, mortgage experts say, though they also caution that there's more to focus on than just what looks like the cheapest upfront option.