Protest camp remains, Moe wants it gone following meeting

The Justice for our Stolen Children protest camp remains in Wascana Park in Regina and it will stay there until at least Monday.

The protesters will meet the provincial government on July 2 — the meeting time agreed upon by the two parties after over 100 days of protest.

But until then, there has been a fiery debate as to whether the camp, consisting of over a half a dozen teepees, should be removed.

“I do understand that there are voices being raised by parents of loved ones, parents that have lost loved ones and that message has been heard,” Premier Scott Moe told reporters Thursday. “But it will be our expectation at that meeting or prior to or after that meeting that the teepees will be removed.”

Moe added he wanted the police to step in and remove the camp as had been done previously. Regina Police chief Evan Bray maintained he won’t do that so long as the protest remains peaceful.

And Regina Mayor Michael Fougere won’t overrule the police decision, saying it’s a violation of the police act.

“You can’t have politicians directing police to do their work, the judgment of the chief of police is an important element,” Fougere said.

But not everyone agrees with that.

Callers to John Gormley were mixed in their opinion of whether the rule of law should be upheld.

“Other than forcing law and order, and proving point, what would him arresting them actually do in the big picture,” one caller said.

Another added,”I would charge them for every day they are on there, a fine for each day.”

When the camp was first set up, the Provincial Capital Commission, which governs Wascana Park, informed the protesters daily permits would be needed. Having a fire and putting up structures violate local bylaws of the park.

— With files from The Canadian Press