Toronto Police Chief needs to resign for inciting protesters

I said a few weeks back that I hoped to see a summit free of violence. Sadly City Hall and the Province aren't playing along. The Province, at the request of Police Chief Bill Blair, have given police the power to stop and search anyone in, near or approaching the security perimeter without a warrant or even probably cause.

Blair and the Province say that this is not a new law - it is an extension of the "Ontario Public Works Protection Act" which dates back to 1939 (likely created to deal with potential saboteurs during WWII). According to the Globe and Mail:

"The act usually covers highways and canals used for the transmission of power and other public utilities, which are permanently designated. It also covers public provincial and municipal buildings. It gives “guards” of these sites the ability to demand a visitor’s name and purpose for the visit and to refuse permission to enter, and arrest without warrant."

Both Blair and the Province claim that there was nothing covert or secret about the law however, again from the Globe and Mail:

"The move was passed June 2 and only appeared on e-laws June 16. It won’t be published in the regular paper format until July 3, after the summits are over."

Whatever bullshit Blair and the Province try to swing this law cannot be seen as anything but a provocation - at attempt to incite violence and when this is all over Bill Blair and whoever is responsible at the provincial level need to resign from office for abdicating their responsibility for public safety. The province also needs to repeal the WWII anti-saboteur law.