Injunction granted to prevent protesters from shutting down B.C. legislature in Victoria

Injunction granted to prevent protesters from shutting down B.C. legislature in Victoria
File photo
Supporters of hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation block the entrance to the B.C. legislature on Feb. 11, 2020.

A judge in Victoria has approved an injunction preventing anti-pipeline protesters from blocking access to the B.C. legislature.

The injunction was sought by B.C. Speaker of the House, Darryl Plecas.

The order authorizes police to arrest and remove people blocking legislature entrances.

The decision comes one day before supporters of hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation plan to shut down B.C. government buildings in Victoria.

READ MORE: Wet’suwet’en demonstrators planning to shut down B.C. government buildings with protests Friday

Victoria police said they anticipate expanded protests tomorrow, just days after hundreds blocked the entrance to the legislature when the spring session kicked off.

“During previous protest incidents, protesters have moved without warning to blockade intersections, public roads and bridges. Officers and resources are being deployed in anticipation of these actions,” police said in a statement.

“Our primary duty is public safety. Our goal is to keep everyone safe. During protest incidents officers work to continuously balance the right to safe, peaceful, lawful protest with our duty to protect the public.”

The head of the B.C. civil service sent an email to employees cautioning that another protest may occur on Friday.

Don Wright wrote that staff may have heard protesters are planning to “shut down” as many ministries as possible. He said the civil service has developed a flexible plan to maintain as much service to the public as possible.

“Please ensure that your safety and that of your colleagues is your first priority,” he said. “We will not ask public servants to put themselves into any situation where they do not feel safe.”

B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says public servants are prepared to expect the protests, but abuse of workers will not be tolerated.

He says there will be consequences if people engage in activities outside the law and he expects that will be enforced by police.

After Tuesday’s protest at the B.C. legislature, Premier John Horgan alleged staff had been “pushed and jostled” on their way into the building.

Victoria police said Wednesday four people have reported being assaulted during the demonstration. Police said three of those people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The fourth was not physically injured but equipment the person was carrying was reportedly damaged, police said.

Friday’s protests are planned for between 8 a.m. and noon PT.

Meanwhile, two hereditary chiefs from the Wet’suwet’en First Nation have launched a constitutional challenge of fossil-fuel projects.

The challenge calls on the Federal Court to declare that Canada is constitutionally obliged to meet international climate-change targets, which the chiefs contend would cancel approvals for the Coastal GasLink line.

Coastal GasLink says it has agreements with all 20 elected First Nations councils along the 670-kilometre route, but the hereditary chiefs in the Wet’suwet’en First Nation say they have title to a vast section of the land and never relinquished that by signing a treaty.

Without their consent, the project cannot be built, they say, and they’ve repeatedly gone to court to stop it – without success.

The Canadian National Railway Co. has shutdown its entire network in Eastern Canada and Via Rail to cancel passenger service across the country due to rail blockades set up by anti-pipeline protesters.

Read the injunction below:

With files from The Canadian Press and CBC

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