Chinta Puxley
The mayor of
Mayor Marie Trainer said she'll be on standby and hopes rain might deter people from participating in a rally at the former housing development site that has been occupied by aboriginal protesters since February.
"I'm very concerned," said Trainer, adding she's worried police may not be able to stop clashes between occupiers and rally participants. "It's almost 100 per cent that something will happen." The rally has been organized to protest the ongoing aboriginal occupation and is to include a march on the disputed land, which is now owned by the province.
Six Nations protesters have asked supporters to pressure the government to block the rally for fear it could spark more violent clashes between the occupiers and residents.
But David Ramsay, minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said the government has done everything it can. The province has asked rally organizers to stay away from the former housing development site, he said.
"What we've said is this is a very dangerous pursuit . . . to have a protest on that property," Ramsay told reporters Wednesday. "We're very concerned about it. It is a threat to public safety and we've asked (organizers) not to do it."
The government has no intention of seeking an injunction to prevent the march even though Ramsay said it is "very dangerous and a risk to public safety."
People who participate in the rally are putting their lives in danger, he added. But it's up to the provincial police - not the province - to stop the rally before it turns violent, Ramsay said.
"We're not washing our hands of it but the police are there to protect people and property," he said.
Jay Hope, acting commissioner of the provincial police, said in a statement that police are "well prepared to deal with any situation that may arise as a result of this weekend's anticipated rally."
Police will not allow the "hard work and commitment to ensuring a long lasting and peaceful resolution to be derailed," Hope stated.
Premier Dalton McGuinty dismissed rally organizers as publicity hounds and said they should consider protesting at the
"There is a particular individual who thrives on the oxygen of publicity," he said.
"If somebody has a particular beef with a government, there is a legitimate way to give expression to that criticism. I would encourage that individual to come to the front lawn of Queen's Park."
But Conservative Tim Hudak said the government is ignoring the situation and needs to end the ongoing occupation. The rally shows town residents have had enough, he said.
"People are not only angry, they're damn angry," Hudak said.
"It's an incredible double standard. On the one hand, the premier is against this rally but it's carte blanche for the occupiers on the occupied site."
The province shouldn't continue negotiating with Six Nations as long as the protesters remain on the site, Hudak said.
"There is no reason for that occupation to continue," he said.
Six Nations protesters have occupied the land since February, claiming it was taken illegally from them over 200 years ago. Their occupation has been marred by violent clashes with residents and barricades that cut the town in half.
Protesters say they will remain on the site - through the winter if necessary - until the land is returned to them.
New Democrat Michael Prue said he hopes this weekend's rally goes ahead peacefully - with police ready to step in at the first sign of conflict.
"The police have to be very vigilant," he said. "If these people show up with pitchforks and guns, I would hope the police would shut them down pretty fast."