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An interim injunction against protests and occupations on the former Arrowdale municipal golf course property has been extended until three motions can be addressed.
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During a brief discussion over Zoom on Friday morning, Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Nightingale and lawyers laid out a series of dates for the matter.
The case now involves three motions. The City of Brantford is pushing for a permanent injunction and there are two motions to strike down the injunction. One motion is based on so-called anti-SLAPP legislation and the other accuses the city of misleading the court to get the injunction.
Heard first on March 31 and April 1 will be the anti-SLAPP motion, which is based on legislation that seeks to protect free expression by preventing suits meant to silence or punish critics. Such actions are sometimes known as strategic suits against public participation, or SLAPP, suits, or intimidation lawsuits. Dates have been set from the end of January until March for the parties to file all evidence.
Two days in June are set for a hearing on the other motions.
Those named in injunction include: Trevor Bomberry, an Oneida man from Six Nations of the Grand River who is the leader of a group of land defenders who occupied the Arrowdale property from Oct. 9 to Dec. 31; Kailee Poisson, president of Friends of Arrowdale, a citizens group committed to saving the golf course; Dan Oakes, of Friends of Arrowdale; Ron Heaslip, of director of Know Your City, which unsuccessfully fought in court the city’s decision to sell the Arrowdale property; Alexander Dawson and Kurt Hadowas Gibson.
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Brantford has agreed to sell 32 acres of the Arrowdale property to a developer for $14 million, with the proceeds to go toward building affordable housing elsewhere in the city. The city also wants to build a community park on 17 acres.
Protesters moved onto the property in October, seeking that the city abandon its plan to sell Arrowdale.
The city’s application for an injunction order was filed on Dec. 8 and was initially heard on Dec. 13, when the interim injunction was granted. The interim injunction now has been extended a few times.
The protesters left the property on Dec. 31. The city immediately installed concrete barriers at the entrance.