N.S. legislature expresses regret over Halifax's handling of Occupy N.S. eviction

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia legislature has signalled its unhappiness with the events leading to the dismantling of the Occupy Nova Scotia protest camp on Remembrance Day.

The legislature unanimously passed a resolution yesterday that expresses regret that the Halifax Regional Municipality and protest supporters did not resolve their differences through discussions and negotiations.

The motion was brought forward by Howard Epstein, an NDP backbencher and former Halifax councillor.

Epstein says the protesters respected what they were asked to do in taking down a camp outside city hall and moving to another park in time for Remembrance Day services.

He calls city council a "bunch of sneaks" for deciding to evict the protesters from their second location by using police to enforce a municipal bylaw prohibiting overnight camping in a public park.

Epstein said the resolution was fully discussed at caucus before it was presented in the legislature.

Premier Darrell Dexter stopped short of saying the resolution was a tacit criticism of the city by the legislature.