The City of Toronto says that it plans to remove Occupy protesters from their downtown encampment and may take action as early as next week.
The city's announcement of a possible eviction comes as residents and business owners near St. James Park met on Thursday night to discuss a variety of concerns, including personal safety and noise.
One resident, who runs errands far from his home in order to feel safe, told CTV Toronto that he wants to see the park reclaimed by the general public.
"This is a public park, we are the public," he said to the protesters. "I don't want you there, you're ruining the neighbourhood."
During the meeting, a protester was arrested just steps away.
Police said that a man was arrested after allegedly throwing hot soup into another man's face at St. James Park just before 8 p.m. The victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
On Wednesday, Mayor Rob Ford said that businesses and residents of the area want him to dismantle the camp and that they've "had enough" of the protest.
"I think it's the right thing to do, to ask them to move on, and that's what people want me to do and that's what I'm going to do," he said.
"They've had a peaceful protest, but I think it's time that we asked them to leave."
No deadline has been set by the mayor, but he said he was trying to schedule a meeting with police Chief Bill Blair.
In London, Ont., protesters were removed by police from Victoria Park on Wednesday. One man was arrested when he returned to the park to put up a tent and refused to take it down.
Officials in Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary have also announced plans to start evicting protesters from camps.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Scott Lightfoot
