Ottawa police evicted the remaining Occupy Ottawa protesters at Confederation Park early Wednesday morning.
Twenty-five people were in the park when police arrived around 2 a.m. and told the occupants to clear out or be arrested under the province’s trespassing law, police said in news release. Many demonstrators had left Monday in the face of a midnight eviction deadline, which was not enforced until today.
Eight demonstrators stayed after police gave the move-out order. They were each given a $65 ticket under the Trespass to Property Act and released.
One of those charged was “injured by the police while they forcibly stopped him from linking arms with the other campers,” Occupy Ottawa said in a statement, citing witness accounts.
Police say the man had a pre-existing injury he claimed was "aggravated" during his arrest. He was sent to hospital as a "precautionary measure," police added.
The park was closed earlier this morning but has since re-opened to the public.
In response to the eviction, Occupy Ottawa has planned a protest this afternoon at the Elgin Street offices of the National Capital Commission, which controls the park and gave occupiers eviction notices Monday.
Occupy Ottawa demonstrators will decide what their next steps are at a meeting at the University of Ottawa at 6:30 p.m. tonight.