Council was told security hired to prevent encampments wouldn’t make arrests. One councillor is questioning why city documents say otherwise.
“My number one question is why does city hall tell us that we’re supposed to ignore these encampments when it’s only one councillor who said they’re an intolerable nuisance,” said Coun. Matthew Green.
Green has been pushing City Hall to make an example out of the encampments, but he believes police in other jurisdictions have dealt with such encampments more effectively. In fact, Green said, his own city has dealt with multiple encampments over the last few years, yet police can’t keep pace with what’s happening in New Brunswick.
Coun. Karen Sharpe said council is just being asked to do a job, “but they’re not getting the results that they needed.”
Sharpe described the encampments as “a clear act of intimidation.” She said the presence of a large number of people was “very intimidating to a lot of people.”
“I have a fear of people, especially if they are known,” said Sharpe, who described herself as a former protester.
With files from Peter Van Duyen