Parliament doors remain shut to would-be Labrador tourists

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Innu protesters in Ottawa were prevented from taking a tour of the Parliament Buildings.

Katie Rich, Chief of Davis Inlet, said the people were met with locked doors when they attempted to tour the seat of the federal government.

"We had a meeting at noon and decided to go home that day, but first we wanted to take a look at the buildings," said Rich. She said there was no intent to protest inside the buildings, they just wanted to be tourists.

When the group walked up the front stairs of the Centre Block the massive oak doors were closed and locked. Normally the doors are kept open as a symbol of the accessibility of Canadian democracy.

Rich said that as the group walked away from the front steps they were told by an RCMP inspector they had one hour to clear off.

With that the people decided to stay.

"Other people aren't asked what they plan to do inside. Is that or is that not racism? We have a right to visit the Parliament Buildings," said Rich.

Officials with the House of Commons said the doors were locked for security reasons.

"By locking the doors they demonstrated they were unwilling to listen to the Innu," said Rich.