Protest camp on Manitoba Legislature grounds stays put as noon eviction deadline passes

Protesters at a camp that's been set up on the eastern grounds of the Manitoba Legislature for more than a year have no plans to leave after a noon eviction deadline came and went.

Around noon Friday — the deadline the province gave for clearing the camp — one of the organizers of the camp east marched up the legislature's steps, beating a drum, and spoke briefly.

Political leaders in Manitoba "keep making laws, doing everything they can to get rid of us, put us back in those communities," said Mary Starr, whose traditional name is Great-grandmother Bear That Comes Like the Wind.

"They don't want us around. This is not right."

A sacred fire was lit on the legislative grounds in June 2021, after the discovery of suspected unmarked graves at former residential schools. Organizers have said they intend to keep it going until all former residential school grounds in the country are searched for burial sites.

But last week, the provincial government issued eviction notices to the demonstrators, initially saying the camp had to be gone by Tuesday. Earlier this week, the group was given reprieve until Friday at noon.

In an email Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the provincial Justice Department said although that deadline has passed, the department is continuing "dialogue with protesters at the encampments."

A police officer at the legislature told a CBC News reporter they have no plans to evict the protesters on Friday.

Numerous police vehicles rushed to the legislature building around noon, and officers went inside for a few minutes.

Police said they rushed to the legislature after receiving a weapons complaint, which turned out to be a false alarm. They had started leaving before 12:30 p.m.

Last week's eviction notice came after the provincial government passed legislation earlier this year giving cabinet members authority to determine what can and cannot occur on the legislature grounds. The legislation bans encampments, vandalism and vehicle blockades.

It also prohibits fires on the grounds, and depositing firewood or other items that would support an encampment.

A second encampment that formed earlier this year and includes a large teepee on the front lawn of the legislature grounds has also been ordered to leave.

That camp had previously been associated with nearby parked vehicles that had messages opposing COVID-19 public health restrictions posted on them.

Leaders of the eastern camp say they are not connected with the other group.