RCMP brought in to intervene in Coastal GasLink blockade
BNN Bloomberg
RCMP have intervened to end a blockade of work camps at a TC Energy pipeline-construction site in British Columbia.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have intervened to end a blockade of work camps at a TC Energy Corp. pipeline-construction site in British Columbia.
The RCMP is mobilizing for a “rescue mission” as the blockade of two crew lodges by opponents of the Coastal GasLink project left several hundred workers isolated and in danger of running out of supplies, according to a release issued by the law enforcement agency.
Members of the Gidimt’en Clan of the indigenous Wet’suwet’en community began their blockade on Sunday, demanding that the workers leave the area and the pipeline not be built through their territory.
A total of 500 workers were in the camp and unable to replenish stockpiles of water and other supplies, the company said in a statement. An email sent to a spokeswoman for the protesters wasn’t immediately returned.
“Coastal GasLink understands that the RCMP have begun to enforce the B.C. Supreme Court injunction that prohibits interference with Coastal GasLink’s permitted construction activities,” according to the company. “It is unfortunate that the RCMP must take this step so that lawful access to our lodges and public forestry roads can be restored.”
The Coastal GasLink pipeline is being constructed to supply gas to the LNG Canada export terminal project. Costs have escalated over the past couple of years amid frequent protests, as well as pandemic-driven work restrictions. The budget inflation, in turn, has fueled friction between TC Energy and backers of LNG Canada over which companies should bear the increased costs.
