Open letter to those individuals who decided to “occupy” MP Ryan Leef’s Whitehorse constituency office on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.:
Your occupation began shortly after 4 p.m., and lasted past 6 p.m. The office normally closes at 4:30 p.m., however, you forced me (an employee of the office) to stay, as you refused to leave.
Statements were made to me that I wasn’t being forced to stay, I could just leave the protesters in the office on their own. This is both selfish and irresponsible. Our office handles casework and passport applications for constituents, which involves private, confidential information and documents, which cannot be left unattended with non-staff in the office. I could have been held personally liable, had I left the office.
I absolutely believe in the right to peaceful protest. However, forcing me to stay at the office was unfair to me personally.
More specifically, I would like to point out that this “occupy” protest delayed a board of directors meeting at the Yukon Council on Disability (for which I serve as a director).
Contrary to popular belief, there are many Conservative supporters who care about social issues, such as myself. This information was relayed to the protesters, however, it did not factor in their decision to stay. The public should be aware that this protest negatively affected the disability community, which I believe was inappropriate.
Martin Lehner
Whitehorse