9 arrested during protest against UN migration pact on Parliament Hill

Nine people were arrested at an anti-migration protest on Parliament Hill Saturday afternoon.

Protesters from various groups, including Quebec far-right groupLa Meute, helda rally in front of Centre Block, site of the House of Commons and Peace Tower,to protest against aUnited Nationsinternational migration pact, whichCanada is set to adopt.

Counter-protesters also attendedthe demonstrations in opposition, and more than400 people attended theprotest and counter-protest.

In an interview in French, SylvainBrouillette, a spokesperson for LaMeute, said about 15groups helped organize the protest, which was plannedto challenge Canada's signing of the migration pact.

The demonstration was relatively peaceful, with an increased police presence.

An Ottawa man was arrested andis facing a charge of assaulting a police officer, after an altercation with an RCMPofficer, Ottawa police said.

Eight other people were also arrested and released with trespass notices, said Joseph Law, a spokesperson with the Parliamentary Protective Service.

Migration pact divisive

About 167 countries have agreed to adopt the United Nations'Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adocument that lays out a collaborative approach to dealing with growing global migration.

The pact sets out 23 objectives for treating migrants humanely and efficiently.

The federal Conservatives have already opposed the signing ofthe pact, and Leader Andrew Scheer warnedit could lead to an erosion of Canada's sovereign authority to make decisions on immigration.

The Trudeau government defended its position, stressing that the pactwas not a legally binding treaty.

The text of the agreement establishes a legally non-binding framework for co-operation and reaffirms the sovereign right of states to define their national migration policies and their right to manage migration within their jurisdiction, in accordance with international law.

The UN conference to adopt the pact will be held in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday and Tuesday.