Occupy Montreal – Day 57

Occupy Montreal ‘splits’

Movement 99% emerges as an independent group aside from OM, their call: “99% has decided to act alone as we were cut off from finances and all from OM.”

By: Paula Monroy

On Thursday’s GA, December 8, Frederic Biron and Martin Nadir proposed that “50% of Occupy Montreal funds[…] be transferred to Quebec 99%”. Participants in the GA were unsure, and concerns were made particularly after proponents said “We talk about participatory democracy. Proponents would be willing to reintegrate to the GA if ‘functional'”. The proposal was withdrawn after an hour discussion. The result? An obvious ‘split’.

In a private discussion on facebook, Antoine De Grassilet, a Quebec 99% member explained, “99% has decided to act alone as we were cut off from finances and all from OM.”

“Unfortunately the GA”, he said, “has lost credibility and has been going on without quorum except for yesterday”. Also pointing that “The people were for OM at first but then as it dragged on the momentum was lost or getting lost in 1000s of different causes. The original 99% against 1% was getting taken over and no one could control the General assembly and the way it worked. That was great at first but then everyday decisions had to be passed and approved by the GA.”

But not everyone thinks the structure of the GA is the main problem.

“Many of the remaining “Occupy Montreal” occupiers have a deep wound from when these guys left in such a public way without talking to the GA first – they’ve never formally apologized for the results of this.” told Ben Godin to the blog, Journal Occupy Montreal.

A press conference was called on November 21 at 2:30pm without consulting the GA. Some of the people organizing it were members of the 99%group, telling the media that they were ready to move out of the park to begin phase 3 of the movement. Short after, the mayor requested occupants to leave.

What is the 99% focusing on? 

De Grassilet proceeded, “[We] have decided to fight for the 3 causes that were most important at this time in order to reorient the debate: Students fees and solutions to prevent those; Plan Nord, which is basically giving away our wealth for pennies; and the problems of collusions and corruptions that have become widespread at all levels of governance.”

When asked about their structure De Grassilet proceeded, “We do not start voting or the such but the actions that are proposed are always either accepted or rejected, not in details but in the general form of the action. We are also working on the structure to allow people to work and word their opinion via the web but not in the raucous way of the discussion group.”

He also clarified, “It is open upon requesting to be added”.

Whatever happened with solidarity, hopefully this ‘split’ won’t last for too long. As the good old protest chant goes “The people united will never be defeated!”.

Occupy Montreal – Day 34

Occupy Montreal will purchase 8 arctic tents from Toronto for $6500 total, expecting them tomorrow

The tents will be divided with the occupations in Laval and Westmount, giving two to each camp, as the GA agreed today.

By: Paula Monroy

VICTORIA SQUARE METRO STATION, November 17, 2011 – As winter approaches and with the city demanding the removal of wooden structures for security reasons, the decision to purchase 8 used arctic tents for a total of $6500 from a Toronto seller was made along with a proposal concerning the distribution of the new tents among campers.

Up to 12 people can fit together in each tent, so groups are expected to have diversity of age, gender, and ideology among its members to promote equality and unity – although one tent will be reserved for women.

“Tents will be inhabited by occupiers, by people choosing to live and work together” explained Matthieu, who presented the proposal tonight.

Since 2 tents will go to Laval and other 2 to Westmount, leaving la Place des Peuples with 4, groups will have to present themselves to the GA. There, discussions will proceed to determine if a tent will be given to the group applying, avoiding unjust prioritasations and/or favoritism.

Along with the tents, the GA also authorized buying 7 propane tanks per week for the heaters. “This is the only method the city allowed us to use” told Paul to the GA, a member of the Housing Committee .

Contact Matthieu Allard matthieugallard@gmail.com and Michelle Drew drewmichelle@gmail.com for more details, questions, or to present them your group before going directly to the GA.

Also in today’s GA,

Occupy Montreal is now in solidarity with ATSA

The proposal was made by the Alliance Committee and the decision was based on the fact that the organization shares similar views with the movement.

Participants will make it official tomorrow during the FIN NOVEMBRE 2011 event, meeting at 6pm in la Place des Peuples to head to Place Émilie-Gamelin, where the event will take place at 7pm.

ATSA is a not-for-profit organization well known for their “Socially Acceptable Terrorist Action (which is what ATSA stands for in English)” that raises social awareness through art.

Occupy Montreal – Day 27

By: Paula Monroy

November 10, 2011 – Metro Square Victoria

Discussions about the city’s sudden security concerns continue

After accepting the idea of having discussion groups before proposals, the GA split in groups of 8 and 5 participants to bring up information or possible solutions to the problem.

Continuing dialogue with the city was suggested by group one. The second group said “the city doesn’t want homeless people building houses in alleys”, thus justify that Occupy Montreal is allowed to do it.

There are volunteer architects verifying the structures to make sure each construction is built correctly for security reasons, according to the third group. Having also considered this, the fourth group recommended that “we should make a press release concerning why the houses should stay”, adding that “the city wants to bring their own architects”.

Buying Army-surplus tents, which are designed for the military to survive arctic weather conditions, is another option. Group five pointed this as a cheaper and better option, considering the fact that these are tents and can fit up to ten people  – so the city will not complain. Their usual price ranges in the $1000s, but someone can get them for $250 each plus $60 to make them warmer. The Halifax occupation acquired one recently.

The last group wants to continue with the construction of the wooden structures.

Further discussions about the issue was to continue in a separate meeting after the GA.

For Tuesdays and Thursdays, GAs will start @6:30pm starting next week

Aiming to bring more quorum for future assemblies, the Facilitation Committee proposed changing the time of the GA to 6:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays because food in the camp is served at 6pm. Apparently, this has become an obstacle for some people to join the meeting on time because they have to eat first – which implies getting caught in the kitchen’s lineup.

A student asked if the kitchen cannot open earlier. The reply from a kitchen committee was “No, because they serve lunch as well and have to clean by 2pm, giving them the enough time to prepare the next meal by 6pm.”

The assembly agreed to change the duration of the GAs to 6:30-8:30 for proposals, and 8:30-9 will be for committee reports and varia.

By 8:20pm quorum was lost.

Concerning trees

Members of the Landscape and Horticultural Committee of the city of Montreal visited the camp during the morning to address the protection of the park trees. They told campers that ropes cannot be tied any higher to the lowest branch of the tree.

Occupy Montreal – Day 20

By: Paula Monroy

November 3, 2011 – Square Victoria Metro Station

The GA started at 6pm with around 65 people present. Ending four hours later, only one proposal was accepted: $600 dollars will be used to purchase three tents for common areas, and 30 people remained. One of the tents, the hospital, will be bought from the militia.

Nonetheless, it was interrupted to join the anti-G20 protest, but it restarted once the march was over.

Independent Tunisian journalist, Thameur Mekky, was present to give insight on the historical elections of Tunisia and the revolution. After him, the occupation in Quebec City was addressed. Someone left the GA, inviting anyone who wanted to go to Quebec City with her and be of actual support to its occupants.

On Fast-Food Democracy

There are starting to be concerns with “our fast food democracy“, as someone expressed, during the GAs. This being because it seems like “every time we need more votes, we just go out there and bring people here to complete the quorum”, according to the same individual.

Indeed, there have been at least 3 occasions in past GAs, including today’s, where in order to pass a proposal, which is usually emphasized as urgent, more people is brought in from the camp.

“It’s dangerous to do it” a man says, “because this method will bring votes that are not well informed”. He added “We shouldn’t impose the method, because it’s not democracy.”

In today’s case, people that arrived to complete the quorum and pass the tents proposal left short after it got approved; consequently, no further proposals were adopted. A girl tried to justify, “It’s because we were taking too long”. Nonetheless, as Ben from the facilitation committee explained, it is a matter of interest, not time.

Hell Kitchen

The kitchen is starting to become hell for those volunteering their time to keep it going. “The amount of volunteers is dwindling and the number of people expecting a meal is growing”, posted Nina Haigh from the Kitchen Committee on Nov. 4. “I am asking you all to step up and do your share, when a mic check is calling for volunteers, come on to the kitchen and help out. If the participation problem is not addressed soon the kitchen staff are seriously thinking of serving nothing but plain rice for several days! “

Occupy Montreal – Day 18

By: Paula Monroy

November 1, 2011 – Place des Peuples

During the evening, an argument between members of the Anarchist group and the Militia led to the stabbing of the hospital that stands North-West of the camp, right next to Rue Saint Antoine. The GA was delayed.

A friendly weather, which allowed the meeting to occur on the surface again, did not seem to be reason for the GA to continue. Because there were not enough people to have a quorum, the GA was changed to a discussion group. No more than 30 people stayed.

The Finances Committee was not happy with this, members had handed out their proposition regarding the security of  the money accumulated from donations.

Their proposition is broken down in three sections: Key holders, Donations and Auditors. The idea is simple, the money will be kept in a float box with only 4 keys available, and two people will be key holders and two more auditors. It reads, “We need two key holders [that]  will be responsible for the daily finances so at least one key holder must be on camp each evening[…]The keyholders are the only people who can remove money from the donations bin[…]All requests for reimbursements and payments are made at Donations[…]Once per week, one auditor, one keyholder, and one witness are responsible to count the total donations”. The committee explained that this is the best they came up with for now, participants thanked them.

Some announcements

Action Committee invited everyone to a march on the 7th at 2pm. “We will go to Hydro-Quebec“, calling for artists to call for the media “so we are broadcasted”.

Another demonstration will occur this Thursday at 5:30pm against imperialism.

Also on Thursday, the city is expected to remove water irrigators under the tents.

An over-expected visit

Offering free coffee and timbits, three fire fighters joined to the meeting. The reason being P-51, a law fire regulation. “Candles and combustion engines inside the tents are not allowed”. They recommended campers to buy propane heaters made for tents with no carbon dioxide emissions.

In reaction, participants asked them to join them on the 14th of November “because we need the fire department recommendation to get a permit from the city to get electricity”.

Regarding peace and the militia

Due to the incident from earlier in the evening, a member of the Juridical Committee suggested the creation of a peace declaration. “We have to react as a collective”, he added.

At the beginning of the meeting, someone suggested to exclude the right-wing from the occupation. Nonetheless, it ended with the following, “We are defining what the problems are, we need this before making decisions”, emphasizing, “We are defining who we are”.

So far, the militia have joined the Mediation Committee, responsible to intervene between disputes and bring about reconciliation. In addition, they want to join the movement as civilians.

Someone addressed the fact that the militia is well organized “when they say they are going to do something, they do it…I cannot understand why we are not doing it.”

The meeting ended with music and dancing. The GA dissolved before the end.

OCCUPY MONTREAL – DAY 6

By: Paula Monroy

A fluffy cloud darkened the sky at around 4pm. Heavy rain, hail and thunders moved forcefully in the city of Montreal. Drained, the cloud dispersed minutes later. It was not expected.

Campers were caught unprepared.

6pm – Not too many people has arrived to the general assembly. There are about 20 individuals gathered really close to the right corner of the monument, where speakers stand. The assembly facilitators are unable to attend, mainly due to the storm prior the meeting.

“We may have to call it off” is brought up. Nevertheless, after a chaotic hour of tedious team effort, the assembly starts up. Approaching 50 attendants, emphasis in the  fact that there is no elite in the committees is made. It is inspirited that “anyone can participate, it is a matter of initiative” and “power is collective!”.

Propositions were presented and talked through, but decisions were not made – “we are only discussing and debating tonight”.

Let us move on.

The juridical committee was concerned with alcohol intake in the campsite because peace within the Place du Peuple (name given to Square-Victoria) occupation  is being jeopardized. “Our message is getting diluted!” In answer, some participants proposed to create a committee responsible to “expel individuals democratically”, but it was unclear.

Today, this and other few propositions will be rephrased and brought back to the assembly for consensus. Among these are conversing about Canada’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan and take a position against it; defining the values, orientation and principles of the movement.

By 8:26pm the assembly was concluded. The space was cleared like when the afternoon hail stopped, sudden.