Unions pitch in for Toronto 'Occupy' camp

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TORONTO, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Labor unions have donated three wooden huts to help Occupy Toronto financial inequity protesters survive winter in a city park.

Overnight temperatures have dipped below freezing since the demonstrators set up camp at a public park in the southern city core Oct. 15. Protests echoing the original Occupy Wall Street movement in New York took place in more than 15 Canadian cities in October.

As Toronto is the country's financial capital, the camp of about 500 people appears intent on a long-term protest in St. James Park, the Toronto Sun said.

Various people told the newspaper three wooden huts worth $21,000 had been donated to the cause and Air Canada had donated six large rolls of foam thermal sheeting to insulate tents.

Protesters said one hut would be used as a medical facility, another would be a combination library and post office and the third could be a dining area.

George Milbrandt owns a cafe adjacent to the park. He told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. the encampment has a humorous cultural aspect.

"The protesters are the ultimate Canadian protesters," he said. "They're polite, they've got clean campsites … maybe we should turn this thing into a tourist attraction: Come see our polite protesters."