Councillors shut down public, private debate on Occupy NS
Posted Nov 16, 2011 05:59:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Council has voted to not discuss the Occupy Nova Scotia issue in public, because it may jeopardize pending legal matters related to the eviction of protesters from Victoria Park on Remembrance Day.
Several councillors wanted a public airing of what was said at last Tuesday’s in-camera meeting, when council made the decision to enforce a by-law which does not allow camping in city parks.
The decision cleared the way for police to remove the Occupy protesters from Victoria Park.
Although council agreed not to discuss the issue during this week’s in camera meeting, Coun. Debbie Hum (Rockingham-Wentworth) was unsuccesful in two bids to move the discussion onto the public meeting agenda.
Hum said she wanted an explanation for the timing of the police action on Remembrance Day, but councillors voted the motion down after hearing from HRM’s legal council.
“Public discussion about something that is before the courts is never recommended and for good reason,” solicitor Mary Ellen Donovan told council when Hum made the motion during Tuesday’s public meeting. “I would strongly advise against any public discussion about the events of Nov. 11 and 12 as related to the occupation of HRM parks.”
Councillors voted 15-8 to not hold the public discussion.
Coun. Jennifer Watts (Connaught-Quinpool) then tried to get an apology on the record, but was also unsuccesful.
“I deeply and sincerely apologize for my role in the unfolding of events that took place with the enforcement and eviction…” she said before being stopped by the mayor.
Coun. Sue Uteck (Northwest Arm – South End) also brought a motion forward to make the last week’s meeting minutes public but it was voted down.
She says with three different versions of what happened in the meeting going around, the minutes are the only way to get to the truth.
“Did council endorse the approach? Yes,” she said. “Was council aware that the occupiers were not going to be back in the Grand Parade? Yes. Was council aware that they were eventually going to be evicted from Victoria Park? Yes. Was council aware that it was going to happen on Remembrance Day? Absolutely not.”
Police handed an eviction notice to protesters in Victoria Park around noon on Remembrance Day and began dismantling the camp a few hours later.
Fourteen people were arrested, and Occupy Nova Scotia has said it’s seeking advice on the legality of the eviction notice.
Participants in the local Occupy movement, who attended the Council regular public meeting Tuesday evening, were forced into a separate room where they watched the meeting via video feed.
“I think it’s ridiculous that no members of Occupy NS were allowed in council chambers to observe personally,” occupier Ryan McKenna told News 95.7.
