More protesters arrested on Burnaby Mountain

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BURNABY (NEWS1130) – At least 10 more anti-pipeline protesters have been arrested up on Burnaby Mountain, bringing the total to 63. More than 200 people were at the demonstration as of Sunday afternoon with hundreds more from as far away as Vancouver Island expected.

An 11-year-old girl was among those who crossed the police line with her mother and both were taken into custody.

Earlier in the day Squamish First Nation conducted a sacred fire ceremony calling for all protesters to remain peaceful and banish hate and anger.

Over a dozen more people were arrested Saturday as protesters voice their opposition to surveying work being done by Kinder Morgan.

Demonstrator Anthony Mayfield says while the possible pipeline on Burnaby Mountain is concerning, there’s a bigger issue that needs attention.

“What I see right now is Ottawa’s interests being put above the people who are actually going to have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis. So, that’s the overarching problem.”

Mayfield says Kinder Morgan is trying to minimize its work by saying it’s only surveying, but he’s not buying it and doesn’t think anyone else should either.

“Any time you let a government or corporation who says ‘don’t worry, we have your best interests in mind, just give us an inch.’ History will tell you that trend leads in a very dangerous direction.”

Meanwhile, Kinder Morgan worked through Friday night drilling one of two, 250-metre-deep holes on the mountain.

The geotechnical work has been approved by the National Energy Board and is required before any construction may begin.

Thirty-four people have been arrested for civil contempt of court for entering a no-go zone between Thursday and Friday.

Kinder Morgan says work trucks, crews and their equipment will continue to move onto the mountain throughout the weekend, despite the presence of demonstrators.

 

A local Member of Parliament visits with demonstrators to offer his support

This week, Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart stood in Parliament and personally called on the president of Kinder Morgan to stop what they are doing.

He has also gone to Burnaby Mountain several times over the last few days with a simple message to protestors. “You know this is your right to do this and good on you for doing it but make sure you stay safe and make sure you get legal advice about what is in store for you if you violate the injunction.”

“It’s not even the tip of the iceberg, this initial drilling,” he explains. “Kinder Morgan wants to build a SkyTrain size pipeline over 900 km long and this will go through neighbourhoods, it will go through the Fraser River it will go through Burnaby Mountain if it’s built.”

He says his office has been “flooded with calls, emails and visits from locals” who are opposed to work on Burnaby Mountain.

Stewart is confident the city of Burnaby’s injunction against the project will be successful and will end with police escorting Kinder Morgan workers off the mountain early next week.

 

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