Canadian cities wearying of Occupy camps

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Tolerance of protest encampments as part of the economic Occupy movement is dwindling among Canadian cities, Postmedia newspapers reported Tuesday.

Tent villages sprang up in cities across the country Oct. 15 as an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York protesting corporate greed and economic disparity.

Vancouver became the first Canadian city to take legal action Monday to shut down the camp on the grounds on the city's art gallery property after protesters defied a request to leave, the Vancouver Sun said.

The apparent impetus for the legal action was the death of a 23-year-old woman at the site on Saturday. The cause of death has not been released, but foul play was ruled out, the report said.

In the capital of British Columbia, Victoria, protesters also ignored a request to leave their camp Monday, the Victoria Times-Colonist said.

City officials in Calgary, Alberta, also announced they had developed an undisclosed "action plan" to gradually pressure protesters to disband, the Calgary Herald reported.

Edmonton, Alberta, Mayor Stephen Mandel told the Edmonton Journal there were concerns for the protesters as a harsh prairie winter approaches.

"Safety and security of people is important," Mandel said.

Quebec City municipal spokesman Jacques Perron told The (Montreal) Gazette protesters there had been asked to leave, but didn't. He said the city was being "tolerant," but that wasn't indefinite.

The Ottawa Citizen said the capital city hadn't yet taken any action to remove the Occupy tent city.