Canada very worried about railway protests, rules out sending in the police
A man passes a snowplow in -23 Celsius (-9 Fahrenheit) temperatures at the camp of First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory who continue to block Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) train tracks as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
Canada's Liberal government said on Friday it was deeply concerned about protests by aboriginal activists that are blocking some key railway lines but rejected a call to send in the police.
Indigenous communities opposed to the construction of a gas pipeline project in British Columbia started interrupting rail traffic last week. Canadian National Railway Co, the country's biggest railroad operator, is shutting operations in Eastern Canada.
VIA Rail trains are seen parked at Via Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) said it will halt operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio
"I am deeply concerned about protests that deliberately prevent the operation of railways through illegal activity," Transport Minister Marc Garneau told a news conference.
"It is about people's jobs and livelihoods and about the transport of key supplies like food, propane, heating oil and chemicals for water treatment, (and) agricultural products for export," he said.
The Association of Canadian Port Authorities said some ports were turning away vessels and shippers were beginning to reroute some cargo to the United States. Superior Propane, Canada's largest provider of propane, forecast critical supply shortages would start in the coming days.
Saul Brown, a Wet'suwet'en supporter, speaks to protestors outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin Light
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged what he said had been "a really difficult week" but dismissed opposition calls to deploy the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to end the protests.
"Obviously we are not the kind of country where politicians get to tell the police what to do in operational matters," he told a news conference in Munich, Germany.
"We will ensure that everything is done to resolve this through dialogue and constructive outcomes."
Saul Brown, a Wet'suwet'en supporter, speaks to protestors outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin Light
Trudeau came to power in November 2015 promising to improve relations with Canada's indigenous bands, many of whom complain they are marginalized and economically deprived. Although some groups claim to have a veto over economic development on their lands, a court said last month they had no such right.
The two cabinet ministers in charge of aboriginal affairs are preparing to meet with local indigenous bands in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Garneau noted that blockades in British Columbia and Manitoba had already been removed.
Saul Brown, a Wet'suwet'en supporter, speaks to protestors outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin Light
The most damaging protest is near Belleville in the Ontario, the most populous of Canada's 10 provinces. Canadian National has won court injunctions to end the action but the Ontario provincial police, responsible for enforcing the measures, has so far not acted.
Andrew Scheer, leader of the official opposition Conservative party, said that unless the government ended the protests it would "be setting a dangerous precedent that a small few can have a devastating impact".
Protestors stand outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin Light
(Additional reporting by Kelsey Johnson in Ottawa and Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Alistair Bell and Marguerita Choy)
Protestors stand outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Ministry of Environment as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Ministry of Environment as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Ministry of Environment as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street with City Hall reflected in the windows as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightProtestors stand outside the Business Development Bank of Canada at 1515 Douglas Street with City Hall reflected in the windows as part of a protest against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/ Kevin LightVIA Rail trains are seen parked at Via Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) said it will halt operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioVIA Rail trains are seen parked at Via Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) said it will halt operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioVIA Rail trains are seen parked at Via Rail's Toronto Maintenance Centre after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) said it will halt operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioSmoke from a wood fire rises at dawn in -23 Celsius (-9 Fahrenheit) temperatures from the camp of First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory as they continue to block train tracks servicing Via Rail, as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada, February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenA Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) freight train remains halted while First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory continue to block train tracks 2 km away as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenSmoke from wood fires rises from the camp of First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory as they continue to block train tracks servicing Via Rail, as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenA Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) freight train remains halted while First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory continue to block train tracks 2 km away as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenA Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) freight train remains halted while First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory continue to block train tracks 2 km away as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenChemical tanker cars of a Canadian National Railway (CN Rail) freight train remain halted while First Nations members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory continue to block train tracks 2 km away as part of a protest against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline, in Tyendinaga, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Chris HelgrenPeople walk out the Union Station after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) announced the shutdown of the operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioPeople walk through Union Station after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) announced the shutdown of the operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioMaria Angel Contreras and her dog Simba, whose train to Ottawa was cancelled, walk through the Union Station after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) announced the shutdown of the operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, at Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioPeople walk through Union Station after the Canadian National Railway Co (CN Rail) announced the shutdown of the operations in eastern Canada and VIA Rail cancelled its service, as its rail lines continue to be blocked by anti-pipeline protesters, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos OsorioFILE PHOTO: Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 16, 2017. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
