Protests In Shelburne - Council Concerns - OPP Asked to Attend Next Meeting

Council Continues To Be Very Concerned About Bi-weekly Protests In Downtown Shelburne and Requests OPP to Attend Next Council Meeting

At the February 27, 2023 Council Meeting, Mayor Wade Mills summarized the range of concerns and comments that he and other members of Council as well as staff have received from residents and business owners specific to the protest event held on February 25,  2023 in Jack Downing Park and downtown Shelburne:

1. The occupation of Jack Downing park by protesters to the exclusion of other members of the community
2. Obstructing or interfering with the flow of traffic
3. People approaching moving vehicles, jay walking, walking onto the street and traffic
4. Loud noise, music and shouting,
5. Evidence of obscene language, either spoken or displayed through signs
6. Blocking parking spaces and occupying all parking in a public parking lot
7. Use of private washrooms by protesters inside business establishments.
8. Shoppers and clients feeling intimidated to come down town and patronize stores and businesses
9. People are concerned to walk through the crowd
10. Elderly people having to park blocks away and walk through the snow to access the pharmacy
11. Loss of business to many local merchants when protests are held
12. Potential for angry or frustrated residents who may at some point decide to take matters into their own hands
13. Business owners are fearful to make a complaint whether a by-law complaint or to call the police because they are fearful for potential reprisal 

The Mayor also commented he was on site and drove downtown. His comments included:

“I also had an opportunity to drive through our downtown core  during the demonstration that took place on Saturday and I’ll agree what we saw Saturday was quite different I think in flavor and scale from what we have seen in the past. It was disturbing.  

There’s been discussion from day one, we’ve had discussion around this council table, last term about charter rights. I’ll be the first one to defend somebody’s charter rights to engage in free speech to engage in the right to peaceful protest but what I think some people fail to realize is that charter rights are not unlimited. They are subject to reasonable limitations and that’s what you know makes us an organized society and not a state on anarchy and I think one of the common themes I heard from people who were upset, concerned, discouraged by what they saw on the weekend was that they feel as though the exercise by some of what they feel are their rights are now beginning to infringe upon others and I think that’s concerning.”

A community member also asked the following questions:

1)    In light of the ongoing by weekly protests that are occurring downtown what is the OPP doing?

2)    Can the OPP provide a greater presence in terms of uniformed officers?

The February 27, 2023 Council meeting was live streamed on You Tube and can be watched at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdikjg_KwRo" target="_blank" 

Council also approved the following motion:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Town of Shelburne issues an invite to representatives of the Dufferin Ontario Provincial Police Detachment to attend at our next regular Council meeting scheduled for March 13, 2023 to provide some comment with respect to the ongoing demonstrations.