One good thing done: Montreal authorities have finally dismantled the pro-Palestinian encampment that had taken over Victoria Square for almost two weeks.
The operation took place at dawn on Friday, with a strong presence from the Montreal Police Department (SPVM). The fifteen or so protesters who were sleeping on site were evacuated. Blue-collar workers began cleaning the site shortly after.
Tensions have risen several notches in recent days, it must be remembered. There has been an increase in acts of vandalism. Intimidation of police officers and journalists. A patrol officer injured in the eyes by a laser. The list was growing visibly longer…
With this intervention, the City of Montreal and the SPVM have offered a response to the many critics – I include myself in the group – who found that it was taking a long time to restore public order in the area.
A long analysis was done to find the best way to dismantle the camp. Finally, it was a regulation on the occupation of public property in the Ville-Marie borough that was invoked to expel the protesters, I was told Friday morning.
Could it have – or should it have – been done faster? I still think so. It will be up to the Plante administration to explain itself. In any case, the peaceful outcome of the affair deserves to be applauded.
The cause at the heart of this encampment remains of course relevant. But the pointed demands made by the demonstrators appeared destined to hit a wall, from day 1 of their occupation.
Among other things, they demanded that the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, whose head office is located at Square Victoria, immediately divest itself of $14 billion in investments, spread across 87 companies.
Even in the highly hypothetical scenario where the Caisse had wanted to liquidate billions in investments, this operation would have taken several quarters. The camp could have remained in place indefinitely, according to the protesters’ claims.
The situation of another encampment, the one located at McGill University, is still pending. The cluster of tents formed in late April, and since then, all attempts by the university to dislodge it have been unsuccessful.
Things seem to be getting complicated there too, as they did in Victoria Square.
Camp leaders refused access to Montreal Fire Department inspectors on Thursday, it was revealed VAT News1. TVA journalist Yves Poirier was sprayed with water by protesters. Teachers are worried about the start of the school year next month.
Many members of the McGill community feel “threatened” by the “illegal and intimidating” actions taking place on campus, President Deep Saini said in a letter published June 18.
McGill refuses to acquiesce 100% of the protesters’ demands, which include cutting all academic and financial ties to Israel. The university’s mediation proposals have been rejected. The impasse continues.
A new hearing date has been set before the Superior Court for the end of July. To be continued.
The bypasses exist to allow the right to protest, without encroaching on private property. We saw this this week at the University of Toronto and the University of Sherbrooke, where camps were dismantled without incident.
UQAM also found a way to reach an agreement with protesters who had set up camp at the end of May. In less than three weeks.
Both sides agreed on a resolution that “favorably met the minimum conditions” set by the protesters. A fifty-fifty deal that allowed everyone to save face.
What to expect next?
Probably: to more strained relations between the Legault government and the Plante administration. They have been throwing bad words at each other on the X network in recent days about the proper way to manage the encampments. Montreal will have to continue to deal with a series of other crises on its territory, such as homelessness and housing, while hoping for support from Quebec.
Also in the realm of possibilities: the establishment of other camps elsewhere in Montreal. If this scenario comes to fruition, we hope that the lessons of the last few weeks will lead to a faster reaction from the City.