Charlottetown councillor questions police action during P.E.I. Pride parade

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Charlottetown councillor mentioned she is confused why police allowed visitors to drive by the P.E.I. Satisfaction parade final month.

Throughout the common month-to-month assembly of council on Aug. 8, Coun. Alanna Jankov mentioned paradegoers have been stopped by police on the intersection of Euston and Pownal streets in order that visitors might proceed by.

“I used to be only a bit perplexed by that,’’ Jankov, who additionally participated within the parade on July 23, advised the media following the council assembly. “I’ve been to many parades through the years, (resembling) the Christmas parade and the Gold Cup parade and that simply doesn’t usually occur. It was an especially scorching day. I didn’t see it as a mandatory factor.’’

Jankov mentioned the Satisfaction parade route was revealed nicely prematurely so the general public would have recognized the place visitors restrictions would have been in place.

Brad MacConnell, chief of Charlottetown Police Providers, was in Quebec Metropolis on Aug. 8 however participated within the council assembly by way of convention name. He advised council that officers use their discretion in conditions like this.

“We elevated our presence of officers in key intersections and we actually need to depend on officers on the bottom to make key choices at key occasions,’’ MacConnell mentioned.

“Take into account security is on the foremost of their choice making. I’ve each confidence that it was, (and I’m) not conscious of any incidents. Definitely, one of many issues we try for is to discover a steadiness between the influence of those occasions on the neighborhood usually … conserving security on the forefront.’’

Satisfaction P.E.I. co-chair Fortunate Fusca couldn’t be reached for touch upon Aug. 10 however did inform CBC’s Island Morning on Aug. 9 that they have been confused and disillusioned that the highway wasn’t utterly blocked off for the parade.

Fusca mentioned there was a logistics assembly involving members of the group and a member of Charlottetown Police Providers, and it was their understanding that the roads alongside the parade route could be totally blocked.

Jankov mentioned she’s had quite a lot of calls and emails from constituents questioning the identical factor.

‘I’m going to watch the opposite parades,’’ the councillor mentioned. “I nonetheless assume … the stream of the parade ought to have continued on as others do.’’

Jankov added that she will not be making an attempt to insinuate any discrimination by police.

“I couldn’t think about there could possibly be any discrimination round our Satisfaction parade,’’ Jankov mentioned, mentioning that the Satisfaction parade falls underneath the identical guidelines and laws different parades do in Charlottetown.