Last Canadian Occupy protest camp closed

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WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The final Occupy protest tent camp in Canada has been closed by police in Winnipeg, Manitoba, based on fire safety concerns, officials said.

Protesters spent 67 days in the city park as part of the Occupy Wall Street financial disparity movement that began in New York earlier this year.

Demonstrators in more than 20 Canadian cities marched Oct. 15 and set up tent cities but all were gradually ordered dismantled, the Winnipeg Free Press reported.

"We respect people's right to protest," Conservation Minister Dave Chomiak said. "But when it comes to a situation that the fire commissioner says that it is not safe, it's our duty to protect people."

Manitoba Conservation district supervisor Joe Johannesson told the newspaper hay bales had been set on fire Saturday and there had been other suspicious fires at the camp.

There were just three protesters left in the park when police ordered them out Wednesday. No arrests were reported.