Ont. mayor losing patience with Occupy protesters

Ont. mayor losing patience with Occupy protesters

Protesters stage a sit in at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of the Occupy Toronto movement on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011.

LONDON, Ont. — The mayor of London, Ont., says his patience is wearing thin with the Occupy movement after a tree lighting ceremony for abused women had to be moved this week.
Mayor Joe Fontana got into an argument with a member of the group in Victoria Park, saying it should not have been necessary to move the ceremony because of the protesters who are camped in the park.
The ceremony has been held previously at a particular tree to mark woman abuse prevention month, and the demonstrators say they moved their tents on Monday to accommodate the event.
Fontana also says city workers haven't been able to properly purge the sprinkler system in the park for the winter or prepare for future events in the park.
He also wants to ensure occupiers are not using the electrical system within the park.
A member of the Occupy group says the protesters will consider an offer from the mayor to set up an education tent during the day if they stop camping overnight.
About 35-40 members of the group are sleeping in the park each night.