OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The revelation that the Alberta Stoney Nation received $300,000 from the federal government to pay for the reserve's "security costs" for the upcoming G-8 Summit in Kananaskis comes as no surprise for the Council of Canadians. The Council and others were negotiating with the First Nation to use the land to set up the peaceful Solidarity Village.

"We have no issues with the Nakoda Sioux," says David Robbins, trade campaigner for the Council "However, we suspected there was interference when our discussions about a venue for Solidarity Village broke down for no apparent reason. Now we know that the federal government paid to prevent G8 dissenters from being able to organize a peaceful response to the Summit."

Maude Barlow, Volunteer Chaiperson of the 100,000-member Council agrees: "This is how the Chrétien government deals with dissent. We really wonder how our peaceful efforts have been portrayed to the Nakoda Sioux."

The organizers of the Solidarity Village have been obstructed in their attempts to set up a gathering place where the public could be educated about the ill effects of the G-8 Summit and other international economic organizations.

Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier has stated that public spaces in the city couldn't be used for political purposes, a decision that clearly defies the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"It really looks like the different levels of government are looking at provoking a confrontation", adds Loretta Gerlach, Prairie Regional Organizer for the Council. "Preventing any political gathering on public space will not prevent protesters and dissenters from going to Alberta and to express their opposition to economic globalization. But having no central rallying point will certainly make it frustrating for dissenters to make education the top activity at Calgary and Kananaskis".

-30-

The Council of Canadians is a national non-partisan, public interest group committed to promoting social and economic justice and defending citizens' rights.