A Toronto judge has delayed making a decision on the Occupy Toronto movement for another few days.
Justice D. M. Brown of the Superior Court of Justice Ontario said Thursday that he would render his decision on whether the protesters could remain in St. James Park on Monday, the City of Toronto said Thursday afternoon.
Brown was initially expected to announce his decision Saturday evening following a court hearing Friday.
Earlier this week a court order was issued allowing protesters to continue camping in the downtown park after city bylaw officers distributed notices demanding tents and other structures be removed and protesters clear out overnight.
The court order was granted with a condition that no other activists be permitted to show up at St. James Park or any new structures be erected on the site.
The protesters have set up camp in the downtown park next to St. James Cathedral for almost a month as part of the global movement against corporate greed and other social inequalities.
Earlier on Thursday city staff began distributing notices to the occupants offering individual counselling to discuss their "individual needs" for shelter, support and housing.
This comes as the Anglican dean of Toronto said protesters cannot use the adjacent St. James Cathedral to evade eviction if the court rules they must leave. The church owns some of the land next to the cathedral but the city owns the rest.
Rev. Douglas Stoute was not available for comment, but told The Canadian Press earlier in the day that protesters should obey the court order.
"We have no authority to allow them to stay here or not," Rev. Douglas said. "Justice Brown's decision will apply to the entire park."
Still, the protesters said the protest would live on despite the impending court ruling.
"I don't think the movement is going to die with our inability to stay in the park," said Mika Gang. "We're going to have to be creative."
