As Ottawa's police chief, I invite anyone who may be in this city for the upcoming G8 demonstrations on June 26 and 27 to attend an "Open Lines'' meeting on Tuesday June 25, at 7 p.m. The meeting, to take place in the Assembly Hall at Lansdowne Park, is to allow for dialogue by demonstration organizers, participants, the public and the police.
Recent major demonstrations in Ottawa taught us that both police and demonstrators need to work together to achieve a lawful and safe environment. To that end, the Ottawa Police Service, in partnership with the RCMP, has put in place a Major Events Liaison Team. This group's mandate is to ensure that lines of communication with the public are kept open before, during and after major events. The goal is to create the conditions for peaceful demonstrations that respect the fundamental rights of protesters as well as the safety and security of local residents and business owners.
To date, several Open Lines meetings have been conducted by our Major Events Liaison Team. Many demonstrators and citizens have already taken advantage of this opportunity to discuss how the upcoming G8 demonstrations will unfold. I am concerned, however, by recent reports that some groups have broken off communication with the police. This is an opportunity lost.
Open and ongoing communication with the organizers and leaders of the demonstrations promotes the interaction and co-operation necessary to ensure a safe event for all concerned. A secure environment works for everyone, including the demonstrators who then have an opportunity to express their points of view.
I encourage the leaders, organizers and participants of the planned demonstrations to accept our invitation to meet and discuss ways to ensure a safe event.
If you have any questions, please contact our Major Event Liaison Team at openlines@ottawapolice.ca, 236-1222, extension 5471.
Vince Bevan,
Ottawa
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