Doug Ford comments on encampment protests

After sweeping across the United States, a wave of encampments has been spreading to Canadian universities. At McGill University in Montreal, a sit in related to the Israel Hamas conflict has led to concerns that the same scene could be repeated on other campuses. At the University of Toronto, signs have now been posted warning against encampments, the university sending emails to students warning that any protest would be considered trespassing. University campuses in Ottawa are bracing for the same, and the premier is pleading for calm. I have all the confidence in the world and our university and our university security or university police. You guys, don’t don’t interrupt some. Some students graduation. Don’t interrupt the students from learning. Don’t, don’t cause any problems there. That’s all I ask. But Queen’s Park appears to be keeping a close watch, calling encampments an illegal act. The government says it’s been assured that universities and colleges are working on appropriate measures to respond. Campus police are acting on behalf of the university, and so they have some authority under the Trespassed Property Act, and they also have some authorities under the Criminal Code. While the government has not said what that response should look like, policing services will likely play a key role if they choose to go down that road and arrest the the students who are protesting and camping on the school property. The premier, however, is taking a softer approach, calling for cooler heads to prevail. Everyone should be living peacefully. I can’t. I can’t stand all this conflict. I just hate it, to be honest with you. So we need need to get along. Can’t stay in conflict like that. Still, the government says it expects universities to work with police to address unauthorized encampments at Queen’s Park. Colin D’mello, Global News.