Protesters plan return to Ottawa

Groups that can't reach remote summit site to descend on capital

BY LEE BERTHIAUME

Because of huge demonstrations in Quebec City during the Summit of the Americas and in Genoa for last year's G8 summit, Jean Chrétien announced last July that the next G8 summit would be held in Kananaskis, Alta, instead of Ottawa.

The official reason was the locale would keep the June 26-28 meetings informal and frank, as well as show off Western Canada's beauty.

The unofficial reasons were to ensure tighter security for delegates and keep damage from demonstrations to a minimum.

However, the change in venue won't keep demonstrators out of Ottawa for The duration of the meetings. In a campaign called Take the Capital, area organizers hope groups that can't make it to Alberta will come to Ottawa instead.

When Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC) member Andrea Schmidt heard about the switch in venue, she says she got a feeling of vindication. "It makes some of our points for us."

- But at the same time, she says she was upset because it meant many people wouldn't be able to get to the remote location. "The reality for a lot of people is that a four-day bus trip isn't going to happen."

Instead, she said groups like CLAC will stay in Ottawa to get their messages out and keep up the momentum she says was established in November. More 2,000 people descended on Ottawa during the G20 summit from Nov. 16-18. Ms. Schmidt was amazed at the number of people who came to G20, considering organizers only had four weeks to get everything together. With more time to plan for the GB, she's hoping for a much larger turnout in June.

According to Ms. Schmidt, 60 groups have shown an interest in Take the Capital, and she's hoping that number will double by May. However, according to University of Ottawa political science professor Luc Juillet, while Ottawa has a wide range of symbols demonstrators can choose from, protesting here isn't necessarily the best choice.

"On one level, it makes sense. It's easier to get here and easier to find accommodations," he said. "But from a political standpoint, you lose a lot from not being where the meetings are. There's a lot of symbolism of having the protesters protesting outside in the streets. It shows the gulf between the protesters and the leaders." Despite Ms. Schmidt's optimism, Mr. Juillet said it will be harder to attract people to protest in Ottawa. And, without people, it will be harder to draw attention to the protests.

But he said that if demonstrators are able to do something spectacular in Ottawa, it could make a bigger impact than normal because it would draw attention from the meetings.

Ms. Schmidt said the lack of a spe cific target — such as a meeting place of the political leaders - is a positive thing. "A lot of us are looking forward to it for that reason," she said. "We can choose the symbols we want to highlight, and there's a whole long list to choose from."

RCMP Cpl. Louise Lafrance said police presence in Ottawa during the G8 meetings will depend on how many people show up for Take the Capital. Mr. Juillet said he-doesn't expect to see the same type of presence as during the G20 summit, but Ms. Schmidt said her group is preparing for the worst. "We're prepared for the level of oppression seen at recent events." As for groups using violence in Ottawa, Ms. Schmidt wouldn't rule it out. "Tactics will be appropriate for the aims of the day," she said. "Politics determines strategy, strategy determines tactics."

Over the next few months, groups like CLAC will travel through Ontario, Quebec and the northeastern U.S. trying to raise awareness of the campaign.

Photo: Riot police in "darth vader" uniforms confront peaceful protesters. Caption reads:
More 2,000 demonstrators descended on Ottawa during the G20 summit last November. In a campaign called Take the Capital, organizers hope groups that can't make it to Alberta for June's summit will come to Ottawa instead.