In a special meeting of City Council, Mayor Brian Bowman and councillors passed a motion to have the city’s CAO, Michael Jack, investigate if Winnipeg could go to court in order to restore order through an injunction.

Bowman has said that he considered the protest an unlawful occupation.

After the council vote, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson weighed in through a written statement showing her support to the Winnipeg Police Service and reiterating that the mayor and CAO have acknowledged that the WPS is in full authority to lead and deal with the protest.

“We have full confidence in the frontline officers of the Winnipeg Police Service to maintain order on Winnipeg streets, as they have been through difficult circumstances throughout these protests,” said Stefanson

Stefanson noted that the province does not have jurisdiction and it would not be appropriate for Manitoba to interfere with civic protests or police operations.

The mayor and premier issued a joint statement after a virtual meeting between the pair that called on those “currently occupying public streets in the area of the Legislative Building to remember to be respectful of the rights of others to live and work downtown in peace.”

Stefanson also weighed in regarding a protest in front of Steinbach Regional Secondary School that began on Thursday, Feb 10, 2022.

In a late afternoon statement the premier said that the protestors were endangering children with their actions and the way in which they were expressing their concerns was dangerous.

“School children and teens should never feel unsafe going to a place where they are meant to thrive. COVID-19 has turned our world upside down, especially for students. One of the biggest lessons we have learned is that in-person learning is best for children and youth, and students get so much more than education at school. School should be a place where students learn, develop, grow and explore, not one where they feel unsafe,” said Stefanson.

© News4.ca 2022