Halifax Regional Police say they’re “prepared to respond if required” to any protests that might turn violent at next week’s G8 meeting of international development ministers in Halifax.
The three-day meeting begins Monday at Pier 21 and will lay the groundwork for talks on maternal and child health issues for the G8 and G20 summits in Toronto on June 25 to 27.
“We will be monitoring it and responding if required,” police spokesman Const. Brian Palmeter said.
“It’s our hope that should anybody attend, they’ll do so and conduct themselves in a lawful manner, which will preclude any need for police intervention.”
HRP has a Public Safety Unit trained to deal with large groups of people and Palmeter said they would be put into action if required.
About 300 are expected to attend a rally and march in opposition of the G8 meeting in Halifax Sunday at Victoria Park at 2 p.m.
Kyle Buott of the Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council is part of the rally organizing committee and says “there is no possibility of violence breaking out” for what is described as a peaceful, family friendly event.
Buott expects the peacefulness to continue throughout the conference, too.
“It’s a very small, side meeting of the G8,” he said. “We don’t anticipate anybody coming in from out of town.”
