The Occupy Ottawa movement says it is still going strong, with its members holding regular protests, possibly searching for a new campsite and raising the idea of forming a new political party.
Despite being evicted last month from Confederation Park, the protesters still meet there twice a week to discuss the movement.
The former occupiers have also staged regular demonstrations – taking on such issues as federal anti-crime proposals, aboriginal poverty and climate change.
“The occupy movement is still very vibrant and very strong,” says Chris Elid, an Occupy Ottawa spokesperson.
The protesters began plotting their future at their first general assembly after police cleared them out of Confederation Park early on Nov. 23.
“From that we gathered a lot of ideas and suggestions as to what we are going to do in the time coming, to move forward with the ideas of the Occupy movement,” says Elid.
They have expanded their focus with demonstrations to support aboriginals on the Attawapiskat reserve in Northern Ontario, to draw attention to climate change, and to contest the federal government’s omnibus anti-crime bill.
Ottawa Police said the total cost of policing Confederation Park for 39 days was $24,000, including $16,000 to clear protesters out in the middle of the night.
The NCC says the cost for cleaning the park were within budget.
The eviction last month has not crushed the protesters’ hopes of occupying another location.
“It could be possible that another physical location is being occupied at some point in the future,” Elid says.
“The movement has more strength now after the eviction. People who were focusing on surviving in the park are now focusing their attention on organizing,.
Elid, who estimated that the movement today is the same size as it was during the occupation, says that general assemblies will take place throughout December.
A new idea at a recent assembly was setting up an Occupy political party, aimed at reducing social and financial inequality.
Protesters set up an information booth at Confederation Park to raise awareness about their issues.