Halifax police dismantle Occupy Nova Scotia on Mayor Kelly’s order. Photo by Adrienne Silnicki
In the 2008 municipal election in Halifax, fewer than four out of 10 eligible voters cast a ballot, a voter turnout of just 37 per cent. With the next municipal election less than a year away – it takes place on October 20, 2012 – one would think that Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly would be looking for ways to ensure that Haligonians are more engaged in political life.
Occupy Nova Scotia did just that. It provided the space to hundreds to express their views, take a stand, raise awareness, and highlight the large gap between the rich and poor. These are just a few of the reasons noted by the 55.3 per cent of Atlantic Canadians who expressed support for the Occupy Wall Street movement in a recent Nanos poll. This stands in contrast to the much smaller 28.5 per cent in Atlantic Canada who view Occupy unfavourably or somewhat unfavourably.
But instead of nurturing civic engagement, the mayor decided to take a hard line with the municipal bylaw that prohibits camping in a municipal park without written consent from the city. He opted to enforce the ‘no camping’ bylaw, despite constitutional law experts suggesting in media reports that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, within reasonable limits, may overrule such a bylaw. Significant leeway by cities is advised by University of Alberta law professor Peter Carver, given the ‘significant possibility’ that a court could rule against cities, especially if the tents and gear of the protesters is confiscated.
The mayor himself is hardly a symbol of one who upholds every municipal bylaw, given the city’s auditor general finding that Kelly violated the city charter and city financial controls with a loan scandal involving a concert promoter, arguably a much more serious infraction.
And Kelly decided on his crackdown even after Occupy Nova Scotia agreed to vacate – and scrubbed clean – Parade Square in advance of the Remembrance Day ceremonies that take place there. What a sad way for the mayor to mark a day that commemorates the struggles against authoritarianism and the victims of all wars.
It is no wonder that more than 300 people marched in Halifax yesterday demanding his resignation.
The Council of Canadians continues to proudly stand with the Occupy movement across Canada and around the world and their demand for a fuller and more participatory democracy. Maude Barlow has stated, “These occupations have created a space to talk about a new economy designed to serve our common goals and aspirations. As the Occupy movements grow and gain momentum, it is clear that our communities are engaged and demand to be included in the political process. These occupations are providing a venue for that engagement. We hope that municipal leaders can be as inspired as we are to see this civic engagement and that they can agree that minor inconveniences aside, cities can only benefit from supporting these citizens in their attempt to build, protect and improve their community. We call on all cities to allow these encampments to continue and to ensure the safe and inclusive participation of occupiers and residents.”
