Days after the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion was again given the green light by Justin Trudeau, a protest will march from downtown Victoria to Central Saanich.
“We are in the era of a climate crisis we are in the era of climate emergencies and if they are going to speak the words then they need to act accordingly and step up to the plate,” said Paul Wagner with Saanich Firsts Nation.
“Most of the people out here find that incredibly hypocritical and are really willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this pipeline isn’t built,” said Victoria city councillor and Federal NDP Candidate Laurel Collins.
And they’re going the distance to send that message. The protest began in Centennial square and continued for over 20 kilometers along roadways including a seven kilometer stretch of highway to their final destination at Island View Beach in Central Saanich.
Going along major streets the march disrupted traffic along the way and that is something Wager says they did to be seen.
“We thought it was a good route to walk right through some of the areas in Vic and bring attention to this and let people know what we are doing the more people that get involved the better off we are,” said Wagner.
The Indigenous-led March was also in solidarity with the front line resistance group Tiny House Warriors who plan to build ten tiny homes and strategically place them along the 518 km trans-mountain pipeline route to stop the project from being built on unceded land.
“And to disregard free and prior informed consent so these structures are here to make a point about that,” said Wagner.
The event will end with a community feast around 6 p.m.
More details on the event can be found here.
CHEK News
