The head of security of the next summit of the leaders of the G7 in Kananaskis says that his group is still working with the city of Banff in the precise location of a “demonstration zone” so that the protesters express their opinions, but it has already been determined where the protesters No be allowed – on roads.
“We will not be able to tolerate a protest on a road,” David Hall told him The house’s house Thursday.
“It is not safe for motorists; it is not safe for the protesters, they themselves. And that is something that we would seek to quickly move away from a road, in case a protest established on the road.”
In addition to his role as Mountie, Hall is Security Director of the Integrated Integrated Security Group (ISSG) directed by RCMP for the G7 event. The group includes personnel from numerous agencies for the application of the law, as well as the military.
The city of Banff has expressed concern about the initial plan of the group to establish a “demonstration zone” in the Central Park of Banff, which is on the banks of the Bow River with a pedestrian bridge occupied on one side and the Banff Avenue bridge in the other.
“The city of Banff praises efforts to facilitate freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, but we believe it would be more appropriate to allow protesters to congregate in places where G7 leaders can see and listen to their message, while decreasing the impact on traffic”, the administrator of the city Kelly Gibson told him the perspective of the rocky mountain. In April.
He pointed out that the G7 International Media Center will be located at the Banff Center in Tunnel Mountain, on a two -kilometer trip from Central Park.
“This will be a very busy moment for the visit, and the people who are attracted to come here for a demonstration zone will face challenges with parking, accommodation, and it is possible that leaders or media who wish to reach them,” Gibson said at that time.
International journalists are expected to travel daily by bus between the Banff Center and the Summit site in Kananaskis, he said, he is at an hour by car.
Hall said Thursday that the security group led by RCMP still plans to put a demonstration zone on BANFF, but is working with the city to determine the exact location.
“It is a better practice to work with protest organizers and try to encourage them to use a space that allows them to have visibility in terms of delivering their message, but it is a space that the police can administer safely,” he said.
“I will recognize that the Banff site is a real concern for local companies and residents, and those are concerns that we have heard, and we continue working with the community in terms of identification of where that site will be.”
The mayor of Banff rejected an interview application on Thursday, waiting for the confirmation of where the demonstration zone will go.
“We are also waiting to listen when a public information session will be scheduled on G7, and the organizers of the G7 have been invited to present to the City of Banff,” said city communications manager Jason Darrah, to CBC News in an email.
Hall said similar demonstration areas will be established in Calgary.
The summit of the leaders in Kananaskis is scheduled for June 15 to 17.
The accreditation will be required to enter and leave a “controlled access zone” around the location of the summit from June 10 to 18.
