Well we are certainly seeing discussion heating up on the collection of kids squatting in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza. The Muslim Heritage Festival had to share their space with a bunch squatters and got to enjoy a lower turnout (probably due to squatters in area) and a distracted event as a result. Other events are coming where groups have booked and paid for Olympic Plaza and those events are now at risk of cancellation due to these squatters. An estimated $40,000 in damage to the park from ground damage to washroom vandalism to damaged paint has occurred due to the squatters and that number can only be expected to grow.
There are only two ways the squatting in our taxfunded park is going to come to an end. One way is if the city stops politely asking the squatters to leave and actually enforces city bylaws on them as they do for the rest of us. The other way will be for Canada as a whole to accept and cave to the demands of these 20 some hipsters and radically change our entire national system. The squatters have already demonstrated that they are more than willing to camp indefinitely in our park and live on the goodwill of the productive. The squatters have repeatedly said that they will stay as long as it takes until their demands are met.
Lets look at the demands that we must meet.
Demand 1:
“We want a Canada that is not looking down the barrel of the same economic rifle that has already fired on the United States. Where the fiat currency with which we currently operate — a currency with a value based solely upon government regulation and law — and the fractional reserve banking system through which it operates, where the required reserves are defined as “nil” by the Bank of Canada Act section 457 (4), are brought to an end.”
Wow. These kids won’t leave our park until we completely change the entire system of Canada’s currency back to the gold standard or something. Yeah, that should happen right away.
Demand 2.
“We want an Alberta that grows its wheat, raises its cattle, cuts its timber and pumps its oil in a manner that is sustainable and to the benefit of the land and to every person, not to the benefit of corporations abroad.”
Hmm pretty broad. Do they mean we should end all exports or all foreign investment in Canada? Both perhaps? OK yeah, that will happen right way there kids.
Demand 3.
“We want a Canada where the debt per-capita does not double in the next decade”
Hmm. I guess we will need to legislate against personal borrowing somehow. This one could be tough but hey, we can get right on that.
Demand 4:
“We want a Canada where every single person is given the democratic representation they deserve, not representation based on mob rule of the majority”
Hmm, a magical system that does not rely on counting individual votes or something. Will the 20 kids determine which representation is deserving? How far will the electorate bend in ending this terrible democratic ruling by uhhh yes the majority.
Demand 5:
“We want a healthcare system based on healing, not on the perpetuation of illness for the sake capital gain.”
Hmm, now we are getting into a conspiracy realm where these folks believe that people are purposely being kept ill for capital gain. Uhhhh OK kids. We will talk to the Illuminati and the Freemasons and see if they can relax that control on people’s health.
Demand #6:
“We want a Canada Where our system of exchange no longer embodies
the logic of a cancer cell.”
Hmm, not sure where to go with this one. Maybe if we ask nicely we can convince cancer cells to change their logic. I see that happening sooner than changing our system of exchange.
Demand #7:
“We want a media that delivers information honestly, no longer filtering it through the lens of corporate or political agendas.”
Hmm. Media conspiracies. OK so we will nationalize all media. That should happen right away. Pravda was such a great paper of the past.
Ok above is just a few of some of the gems these guys are demanding. If you want to go to the source head here. I strongly suspect that it will all make a great deal more sense with the massive consumption of some sort of mind-altering drug however because it sure as hell makes little sense sober. There are all sorts of other broad demands such as ending “systemic inequity” though none can point to direct examples. Some have said they want the oilsands totally shut down while others are on about pipelines. The list of demands appears to be as infinite as the schedule of these squatters.
I guess another thing that can happen is that we let these kids and pretty much anybody with a chip on their shoulder camp in our public spaces any time they want in perpetuity.
This is getting totally unreasonable people. The demands being made are totally in outer space and the damage being caused by the squatters is increasing. Whatever point these guys may have had to be made has been made. We need to move these squatters out of our park.
In the posting on this blog prior to this one there is contact information for making bylaw complaints and for contacting individual aldermen. Call 311 and let the city know that this foolishness has gone on long enough.
We need to equally enforce our bylaws for all.
I like your item #4. Apparently they have had four “leaders” in their first two weeks.
Their system seems to be work great. /sarcasm
I’ve been to Olympic Plaza every day to observe the occupation. I haven’t met any kids there.
Well, we forget that this bunch played a large role in the election of our Politically Correct Mayor — and he knows that the Twits (sorry, Twitters and Social Media) are a very vocal bunch online. God forbid if his name comes up in a less than flattering conversation amongst this bunch.
But in all fairness, he’s doing a splendid job Tip-Toeing-Through-The-Tulips of being seen as mean-spirited by the Twitters and being perceived as weak by the rest of us (those of us who are held to a different by-law standard).
BTW: Does anyone else feel the Great Canadian Gouge is also being deployed by our City Hall when they quote $40,000 price tags for sod and a lick of paint? Now there’s a follow-up story you’ll never see.
John Ross…ask Cory for the proof of the $40,000 damage. He quotes it enough.
Jane / Cory- I think #4 pertains to porportional representation. It is an electoral methodology to be more reflective of the electorate’s voting wishes.
I believe city professionals over the squatters when it comes to the estimates of damage being done to the site over and their estimate has been $40,000. A landscape professional (non city) was quoted in FFWD magazine thinking that costs may even be more. It is a day use park. Anybody who has maintained a lawn knows that having something such as a tent on it for an extended period of time impacts and kills the grass. Walking paths between the tents do that too. Damage to the washroom due to extended hours and repainting/cleaning have been put into the estimate as well. To deny a fiscal impact on the park is folly.
Proportianal representation has been repeatedly rejected by Canadians in referenda. Why should those democratic voting outcomes be overturned simply because 20 hipsters set up camp illegally in a city park?
I’ve requested via 311 the quotes.
The damage you allude to may be true. Lets see.
I guess I am of the camp that welcomes the diverse opinions generated rather than the perpetual “my way is the right way”.
A lively discussion of alternatives are not dangerous, they’re refreshing in my grumble opinion.
20 hipsters Cory? Come come. They ain’t that hip.
But some hybrid of proportional representation would truly reflect
the diverse views of our society rather than a subjective policy to include different groups.
Regardless Cory, compliments on your writing. I enjoy it!
Jonathan