Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and NDP MP Kennedy Stewart have been arrested after taking part in protests against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Burnaby Friday.
The representatives of Saanich-Gulf Islands and Burnaby were led off the site on Shellmont Street around noon for allegedly violating an injunction granted by the B.C. Supreme Court.
May knew she risked arrest, but told reporters outside the facility that she believes permits were issued to Kinder Morgan by the National Energy Board without proper process.
"They did not respect the rights of intervenors, they did not respect the rights of Indigenous people on this territory," she said.
"The commitment to build a pipeline in 2018 when we're in climate crisis is a crime against future generations and I will not be part of it."
Stewart told The Canadian Press he went to the event to express the "deep, deep opposition" felt by his constituents.
"It's a combination of the disastrous potential of this project, but also betrayal around how it was approved that is moving many of my constituents to take the actions that they are."
Both were released from custody on a promise to appear in court in the coming months.
Prior to their arrest, protesters were given copies of the injunction they'd been accused of violating and asked "a number of times to leave," Mounties said. They were told they would be taken into custody if they did not move.
A total of 25 people, including the politicians, were arrested for violating the injunction Friday, according to Burnaby RCMP.
One demonstrator told CTV News about 100 people had been taken into custody since the demonstrations began. The number has not been confirmed by police.
About the injunction
The injunction giving Mounties the ability to make such arrests was granted last week, and bans protesters from being within five metres of its facility. Demonstrators have the right to lawful and peaceful protest, but cannot obstruct, impede or otherwise prevent access to the site.
A lawyer for Trans Mountain, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Canada, told a judge at the time that protesters' goal was to cause financial harm through delays, and that their actions could cause the company to abandon the $7.4-billion project.
The Texas-based company behind the project has been logging trees at the terminal to make room for the pipeline expansion. Crews have been given until next Monday to get the clearing done, before migratory birds arrive in the area putting work on hold until August.
Dozens of others have been arrested in recent days as a result of the injunction, including nearly 30 in one day at a protest last weekend. Three officers were injured – including one who was kicked in the head – during interactions with protesters at another demonstration Monday that saw 19 arrests in a span of about 12 hours.
In addition to protests at the Burnaby location, demonstrations against the expansion were planned at the offices of 44 MPs across Canada on Friday.
Protesters also staged a sit-in outside Kinder Morgan's downtown Calgary office, where they were met by pro-pipeline demonstrators.
Mounties seeking mischief suspects
Burnaby RCMP asked for the public's help to identify two men believed to be responsible for damaging a semi-truck as the driver attempted to access the Shellmont worksite Friday morning.
Both were wearing balaclavas as they allegedly blocked access then damaged the rear tires.
The men have been described as approximately 5-10. One was wearing a white baseball cap, light green jacket, dark pants and a dark backpack, while the other was wearing a black jacket and camouflage pants.
Mounties have said previously that they're using a measured approach when dealing with ongoing demonstrations, ensuring those against the project retain their right to peaceful protest.
Pipeline met with political opposition
The project will triple the capacity of the existing pipeline to nearly 900,000 barrels of bitumen. It was approved by both the federal government and NEB, despite opposition from B.C. politicians.
Local leaders have expressed concerns that the project threatens B.C. waterways including the Burrard Inlet, which will see an increase in tanker traffic as a result.
The NDP government threatened to consider a restriction on the amount of crude flowing into the province, prompting threats of a "trade war" with Alberta that began with a brief ban on B.C. wines.
Premier Rachel Notley has also threatened to cut B.C. off of Alberta oil and gas if the province makes further moves that could cause pipeline investors to balk. John Horgan said B.C. will fight its bitumen battle through the court system.
Horgan called a hypocrite
Meanwhile, Alberta's United Conservative Party leader likened a request from Horgan to Ottawa for help keeping gas prices down to a comedy script. Jason Kenney said it was laughable that Horgan claimed the pipeline wouldn't bring prices down by increasing supply.
Horgan asked for help Thursday as prices in B.C.'s Lower Mainland reached record-breaking numbers. He said the Trans Mountain expansion won't help B.C. because the bitumen will be shipped to other jurisdictions.
Notley also accused the Horgan Government of hypocrisy, saying the premier is applying different environmental standards in B.C. than he's asking for from Alberta. She said the best way to combat record-breaking prices would be to allow "open and smart trade between provinces," including permitting Alberta to ship more product west.
While Alberta politicians have been critical of B.C., last week the governor of Washington state said he's "allied" with the province's stance.
Jay Inslee said the project poses a threat to Washington's waters as well, and that his government is looking at marine safety laws that would help mitigate the impact of a tanker spill.
With files from CTV Vancouver's St. John Alexander and The Canadian Press
