Photo: The Canadian Press
A decapitated statue of Queen Victoria is seen overturned and vandalized at the provincial legislature in Winnipeg on July 2, 2021.
The Manitoba government is preparing to ban encampments, vandalism and blocking vehicles from the legislature.
The Progressive Conservative Party cabinet drew up a list of prohibited activities that also included lighting fires, brandishing weapons and leaving generators, firewood or other items to support the camp.
People who break the rules can be kicked off the grounds and face fines of up to $5,000, although people can petition the security chief for an exception to the rules in some circumstances.
The government has not yet said when the new rules will come into force.
The list of banned activities follows a law passed earlier this year that gave the cabinet the power to determine what can and cannot happen on the grounds.
There have been three encampments in recent months, including a noisy protest against the COVID-19 restrictions that involved large trucks blocking the grounds’ main entrance in winter.
“The right to lawful demonstration is critical in a free and democratic society. People’s right to live and work safely is also an important part of our democratic institutions,” Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said in a statement on Friday.
“The new Legislature Security Act balances these rights by allowing protests while ensuring that those who visit, work or demonstrate in and around the Legislature are safe. As with all illegal activities, it will be left to law enforcement officials through their discretion to enforce these laws, including any that arise lawfully.”
Two camps remained on the grounds Friday. One, in place for more than a year, includes several tents and several wooden structures on the east lawn of the legislature. It was created after the discovery of unmarked graves in former dormitories.
A second, more recent camp sits on the front lawn. Vehicles with messages opposing public health restrictions against COVID-19 are parked nearby.
Last summer, protesters toppled a statue of Queen Victoria and removed her head. No one was charged.
The government said the statue was damaged beyond repair and there was no word yet on what would be installed in its place.
“Those are all the discussions we’re continuing to have right now and consultations about what it’s going to look like from the outside (front),” Premier Heather Stefanson said earlier this week.
“If you go to Saskatchewan, they don’t really have anything there. They have beautiful gardens and everything. We’ll just see…no decisions have been made.”
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