‘Council should be disbanded’: Protesters storm regional council chambers during meeting

Protesters interrupted a Waterloo Regional Council meeting on Wednesday. CTV's Heather Senoran reports.

There were some tense moments at a Region of Waterloo council meeting as protesters marched into the middle of the horseshoe.

It happened on Wednesday as the chief of the Waterloo Regional Police Service was making a presentation.

Yelling can be heard on the recorded video of the meeting before Regional Chair Karen Redman announced a 15-minute recess.

“Some people were saying, ‘This council should be disbanded’. Some people were saying, ‘Housing is a human right,’” Acer Bonaparte, a protester who is also a member of activist group Fight Back K-W, said.

Bonaparte said the protest started outside of Region of Waterloo headquarters, but Bonaparte and about seven other people decided to take the protest inside.

“It was a very spur of the moment decision to move inside. The rationale behind it was that if council isn’t going to listen to us, then we’re going to make them hear us,” they said.

Bonaparte said they were upset about the region’s decision to appeal a court ruling that prevents the dismantlement of an encampment on Victoria Street.

“If council won’t give unhoused people peace, we won’t give them peace,” they said.

Bonaparte said they were told to leave the building but were let back into the main lobby area later. Bonaparte sent CTV News video of some of the protestors talking to what appear to be security guards. They said the group left again after some time.

Bonaparte said they didn’t mean to scare anyone but said it is important to be heard.

“It’s uncomfortable to be told you’re wrong. It’s uncomfortable to be faced with the consequences of your actions. And that’s what we see this as,” they said.

Some councillors said the interruption took them by surprise.

“It’s quite startling. And I think the other aspect of it all is how frightening it is for people in the audience and for our staff who were on the main floor area where these people were yelling and screaming,” said Councillor Doug Craig.

Councillor Colleen James said it wasn’t the right setting for a protest.

“We know that there has been instances with elected officials [being threatened or followed] or just abused in some sort of way. And, yesterday was an example of just how heated things can be,” James said.

The Region of Waterloo said it respects the democratic right of individuals and groups to express their views.

“Public participation and differing perspectives are an important part of a healthy democracy, and council chambers is a place where important community issues are discussed openly,” a statement from the region said. “At the same time, it is important that all participants, members of the public, and staff are able to engage in these proceedings safely and respectfully.”

The region said it is committed to maintaining an environment where people can be heard while ensuring meetings can continue in an orderly way and in accordance with established procedures.

The region did not specify if security will be amped up for future meetings.

“I don’t want this to be we deny access. This is a democratic institution. People should have access. But the reality is that we need to look at what that means and ensuring safety for everybody in these spaces going forward,” said James.

Craig said residents can take their concerns to the polls.

“If you’re upset about council and decisions we make on any issue, there’s an election coming up in October, and they have an opportunity to do something about their viewpoint,” Craig said.