There'll be no welcome mat for G-8 protesters in any city parks, Mayor David Bronconnier insisted yesterday.
And an official with the Stoney Tribal office said a request to set up the so-called Solidarity Village there has likely come too late to be approved by band council and the community.
Organized anti-globalization activists are having problems securing a spot for their campsite and Bronconnier served notice there'll be no refuge in any civic green space.
"Calgary parks are off-limits for campsites and tents," said the mayor.
"Nor do I think Calgarians want to see their parks decimated for a weekend party."
The use of Olympic Plaza as a staging ground for demonstrators was particularly out of the question.
And any notion city officials should accommodate activists by finding a suitable campsite for them was also dismissed by the mayor.
"It's not for taxpayers to scour the countryside for a suitable site," Bronconnier said.
Stoney Tribal administrator Heather Carnahan said an application received last week to hold an event there likely won't have time to go through the usual consultation process.
Carnahan said with speculation running at 10,000 participants, "that's three times the size of our community."
Council of Canadians trade campaigner David Robbins said "there may be some misunderstanding of what we're doing.
"We're simply asking for space for an educational event and musical festival."
Robbins, who said there's no camping being requested, hopes a location will be found.
"It's important there be space for an alternate message," Robbins said.
"If there's not, than you have to ask if we live in a democracy."
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.