On the ultimate day earlier than G7 leaders collect in Kananaskis, Alta., activists and group teams met in downtown Calgary on Saturday afternoon for a “people’s forum” that took intention at the priorities of G7 leaders.
Additionally they mentioned plans for a demonstration and march close to metropolis corridor in Calgary on Sunday. Organizers mentioned the purpose was to unify fragmented activist teams forward of the protest.
“The G7, it’s happening for a few days, but it’s going to wrap up and leave,” mentioned Yasmeen Khan of the Worldwide League of Peoples’ Battle (ILPS), which describes itself as an anti-imperialist group.
“But the issues are still going to be there. So how do we, in Calgary and in Alberta particularly, build a people’s movement?”
A collection of protests and marches are anticipated all through the day in downtown Calgary on Sunday, representing a variety of various teams and priorities, together with labour, youth, Indigenous and environmental activists.
There are three “designated demonstration zones” established by officers operating by means of the summit: one in Banff and two in Calgary, however police have mentioned individuals have the proper to assemble outdoors the zones.
The ILPS expects a number of hundred individuals on the metropolis corridor protest, with buses arriving from Edmonton.
Additionally they have plans for a march at the side of different group and activist teams, which can transfer past the official protest zones.
“We are saying that it’s a peaceful march. [Our] police liaisons will discuss with the police. If there’s a go, then we’ll do the march,” Khan mentioned.
Nonetheless, there’s concern over how any potential confrontations with police might be dealt with, particularly if numbers swell outdoors the vary of what organizers expect.
Officers promise ‘measured, proportionate’ response
Officers have referred to the G7 summit as the “largest domestic security operation” a rustic can tackle, with superior technological threats contributing to heightened safety issues.
A significant police presence might be in place throughout the summit, together with officers from RCMP, Calgary Police Service and different companies.
As demonstrations unfold in Calgary, safety officers say they’re taking a “measured and proportionate” strategy with an emphasis on dialogue and de-escalation.
“We remain committed to transparency and accountability in all our actions,” mentioned David Corridor, Alberta RCMP superintendent and occasion safety director for the G7 Built-in Security and Safety Group, in a launch.
He mentioned they may take “enforcement action only when necessary to maintain public order or respond to criminal activity.”
‘Feels kind of Hunger Games’
Officers have mentioned footage from demonstration zones is to be livestreamed to the restricted space for leaders to observe. There’s additionally an illustration zone on the Calgary airport, nevertheless it isn’t being livestreamed.
Police have mentioned the designated demonstration zones are supposed to guarantee security whereas offering visibility. However some members of Saturday’s occasion considered them in a different way.
“I feel like live-streaming a protest zone to people in a resort feels kind of Hunger Games. It’s a little dystopian,” mentioned Isa Carlin, a member of Migrante Alberta, a company that advocates for the rights of migrants.
Different activist teams are additionally anticipated to hitch Sunday’s demonstrations.
The Calgary Raging Grannies group has mentioned it is going to be on the protest zone at metropolis corridor, as will activists rallying for Indigenous water rights and water safety.
Moninder Singh, spokesman for the Sikh Federation of Canada, mentioned there will even be a collection of protests towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited to the G7 by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“There has been a topic of discussion to just keep the protest until he’s wheels-up, until Mr. Modi’s wheels are up and out of the country,” Singh mentioned.
One main environmental group, Greenpeace Canada, has mentioned it received’t ship a big contingent to Alberta this yr.
On Saturday, metropolis corridor was the situation for a rally of members of Calgary’s Ukrainian group. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending the G7.
The summit itself is being held west of Calgary within the wilderness resort of Kananaskis, surrounded by a number of layers of safety and inaccessible to the general public.
