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 deadlinethe province gave for clearing the camp one of the organizers of thecamp eastmarched 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 intendto keep itgoing 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, thegroup was given reprieveuntil 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 reporterthey have noplans 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 saidthey rushed to the legislature after receiving a weapons complaint, which turned out to be a false alarm. They had started leavingbefore 12:30 p.m.

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

It also prohibitsfires on the grounds, and depositingfirewood orother 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.