Montreal activists pack up tent city for second time

For the second day in a row, a group of social-housing activists tried to set up a tent city to raise awareness about a lack of low-rent housing and then had to dismantle it after an eviction order.

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This time, the protesterspitched theirtentson a stretch of grass near the corner of Pine Avenue and St-Denis Street.

FranoisSaillant, spokesman and coordinatorfor the groupFRAPRU, was hopeful they would be able to stay longer because the land belongs to the provincial government.

But Montreal police Sgt. Jean-BrunoLatoursaid the provincegave an eviction notice to the protesters at 2 p.m. this afternoon. The protesters weregiven until 3 p.m. to leave.

At least five protesters were arrested and thenreleased withticketsafter police followed through on the eviction order.

Saillantsaid the protestersmay use another strategy to raise awarenessor look for yet another space to occupy.

Yesterday, police gave a group of about 100 peopleuntil 4 p.m. to take down their tents.

Some said they would cooperate, while others said they would keep theirtents up in protest.

By 5 p.m., three men had beenarrested.

Fouryear wait for social housing

Saillant's group is upset aboutfederal and provincial government cuts to social housing in recent years.

Quebec will build only half as many units as planned for 2015,Saillant said.

He said more than 53,000 people are currentlyon a list forsocial housing with an average waitingperiod of four years.

Many protesters say the lack of housing makes getting out of poverty next to impossible.