EDMONTON -- An angry Ralph Klein denounced Greenpeace protesters yesterday for placing solar panels on the roof of his Calgary home to draw attention to his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol.
"I was mad because any invasion of private property angers," the Alberta Premier said. "If you heard someone on your roof, I'm sure you would be angered too."
With reporters in tow, the activists arrived at Mr. Klein's modest bungalow clad in yellow hardhats and orange coveralls with "Climate Rescue Team" signs on their backs. After raising a ladder, they put two solar panels on the roof and hung "Solar Fights Drought. Kyoto Now" banners from the eavestrough.
"As the richest countries in the world are meeting to talk about Kyoto, we wanted to show that it's not lack of technology that hinders progress, it's lack of political will," said Greenpeace Canada spokesman Jamey Heath, referring to a meeting of G8 environment ministers that starts today in Banff.
In Edmonton, Mr. Klein said his frightened wife Colleen, who was home alone with their dog Jessy, telephoned members of his security detail, who notified Calgary police. Officers arrived at the home, videotaped the six protesters and later asked them to remove the solar panels, but did not arrest or charge them.
The Premier, who said his "immediate reaction was, charge the you-know-whats," said he changed his mind.
"That will be a big media show and that's precisely what they want," he said.
"I'm going to serve warning that if anyone -- any organization or any individual -- invades our privacy and trespasses on my property again they will be charged without question."
Mr. Klein also called on the federal government to ramp up security in advance of the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in late June.
"I would like to see that kind of assurance, absolutely, a very firm, a very bold statement and some evidence that there is going to be protection because if this small group can get on my property, what are they going to do to the properties of other MLAs, civic officials, high-profile industry people?"
However, Mr. Klein said he did not believe the midmorning incident was indicative of a lapse in his own security arrangements.
"We can't have security in front of our house 24 hours a day and I wouldn't want that.
"But the security people were there when they were called, they were quick to respond and so were the police, to the best of my knowledge, but I'm sure there will be an investigation into this matter."
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