DOZENS OF criminal trials, sentencings and family court matters planned at the Ottawa courthouse during the G8 Summit are being rescheduled for security reasons.
The Elgin St. building, which according to police intelligence will be one of the protest targets, will be completely shut down on both June 26 and 27.
Although the summit is being held in Kananaskis, more than 5,000 protesters are expected to descend on Ottawa. The Take the Capital group is planning gatherings and snake marches through the city.
Organizers said groups are expected to disrupt organizations they say represent capitalism, including government buildings. Some downtown government buildings are also expected to close during the protests.
BIGGER CROWDS
While protesters snaked through the Capital during last fall's G20, the courthouse remained open.
However with greater numbers expected this time around, the courthouse security committee made the decision to close the building. The move will also free officers scheduled to testify in those matters so they can be used throughout the city.
Although the courthouse would be an ideal staging area for police because of its central location, Attorney General spokesman Brendan Crawley said the building will not be used by anyone, including police.
Bail hearings and trials involving accused in police custody will be moved to Ottawa's Provincial Offences Court -- the former Gloucester city hall on Telesat Ct. near Blair Rd. and Hwy. 174.
At least two other ongoing matters will be held at another location, yet to be determined.
"The relocation plan is being finalized," Crawley said.
ADJOURNMENTS
People involved in criminal matters scheduled in the Ontario Court of Justice for those days are expected to cram into an Ottawa courtroom today to have their matters adjourned, ideally to a date in August or September.
For people on strict bail conditions, this isn't such a great deal, said Rosalind Conway, president of the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa (DCAO).
"If they're acquitted in September, they have lived under those strict conditions all summer when they could have been free," Conway said, adding that delaying matters infringes a person's right to a timely trial.
All business offices in the courthouse will also be closed, which means people will be unable to get birth certificates or file documents.
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