A court injunction to remove protesters from the Vancouver Art Gallery lawn could take several weeks to complete, city council was informed yesterday during a briefing of the two-and-a-half-week-old protest.
City manager Penny Ballem told council that staff are keeping a close eye on the occupation and that protesters remain co-operative and compliant with regards to any safety or health issues.
Mayor Gregor Robertson had publicly toyed with the possibility of seeking an injunction to remove the 50 to 60 protesters who have set up 100-odd tents.
City staff asserted they would first need to compile a detailed case with evidence arguing why the encampment poses a significant risk to the community.
“You have to examine health and safety issues, if there is evidence of property damage, criminality or dislocation of city and businesses,” Ballem said.
The injunction may not even receive approval from court because protesters are keeping the site in as safe a condition as possible — food is being properly stored and cooked, electricity and water are being funnelled from the VAG, and no propane tanks are allowed on site.
NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton argued that the wait-and-see approach is not enough and immediate action needs to be taken.
“The major issue is there is a significant impact on neighbouring businesses,” she said. “There’s a huge cost to the city and there is the ongoing displacement of other people wanting to use that site.”
Anton attempted to introduce a motion to begin the process of shutting down the encampment within seven days, but no councillors seconded her motion.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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