Protesters block rail line west of Edmonton in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en
BY CALEY RAMSAY GLOBAL NEWS Posted February 19, 2020
https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/bf02388c-5326-11ea-9d41-0242ac110004/?jwsource=cl
WATCH ABOVE: A group of protesters set up a blockade along a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday morning, as Wet'suwet'en solidarity blockades continue in communities across Canada. Kendra Slugoski has the details.
A group of protesters set up a blockade along a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday morning, as Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades continue in communities across Canada.
The blockade was set up in the Winterburn Industrial Area near Acheson, Alta., south of Highway 16 along 231 Street.
At around 7 a.m. Wednesday, a car and several pallets were used to block the rail line as about 30 protesters gathered. They put up signs which read “Wet’suwet’en strong,” “reconciliation is dead” and “we protect us.”
A group called Cuzzins for Wet’suwet’en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
CN officers were on scene Wednesday morning. Vehicle traffic was being allowed through the area.
The protest was organized by the group Cuzzins for Wet’suwet’en.
CN Trains are blocked outside of Edmonton in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en #ShutDownCanada #WetsuwetenStrong #ReconciliationIsDead #Yeg pic.twitter.com/bN0LaO3rDu
— Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en (@C4Wetsuweten) February 19, 2020
The blockades in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs are in protest of an LNG pipeline in British Columbia.
READ MORE: Average Wet’suwet’en people caught in pipeline dispute crossfire, says wing chief
Coastal GasLink signed agreements with 20 elected band councils along the pipeline route, including the Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s council.
But Wet’suwet’en’s hereditary chiefs are opposed to the project and say the council does not have authority over the relevant land.
CN officers were on scene Wednesday morning. Vehicle traffic was being allowed through the area.
The protest was organized by the group Cuzzins for Wet’suwet’en.
CN Trains are blocked outside of Edmonton in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en #ShutDownCanada #WetsuwetenStrong #ReconciliationIsDead #Yeg pic.twitter.com/bN0LaO3rDu
— Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en (@C4Wetsuweten) February 19, 2020
The blockades in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs are in protest of an LNG pipeline in British Columbia.
READ MORE: Average Wet’suwet’en people caught in pipeline dispute crossfire, says wing chief
Coastal GasLink signed agreements with 20 elected band councils along the pipeline route, including the Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s council.
But Wet’suwet’en’s hereditary chiefs are opposed to the project and say the council does not have authority over the relevant land.
0:50More than half of Canadians disagree with railway blockades, want police involvement: Ipsos poll More than half of Canadians disagree with railway blockades, want police involvement: Ipsos poll
READ MORE: 61% of Canadians oppose Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades, 75% back action to help Indigenous people: poll
CN Rail said Tuesday it is laying off about 450 workers in its operations in Eastern Canada after cancelling more than 400 trains in the past week. The union fears the number of laid-off employees will grow by the end of the week.
An Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News about the demonstrations suggests two-thirds of Canadians disagree with the ongoing blockades. The poll also suggests three-quarters of Canadians think the federal government needs to act immediately to address quality of life issues affecting the country’s Indigenous people.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said the protests by “radical activists” are a warm-up act in the next battles against the Trans Mountain expansion project and the proposed Teck Frontier oilsands mine in northeastern Alberta.
Scheer told Parliament that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has encouraged these types of protests by cancelling other projects based on political considerations.
CN Rail said Tuesday it is laying off about 450 workers in its operations in Eastern Canada after cancelling more than 400 trains in the past week. The union fears the number of laid-off employees will grow by the end of the week.
An Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News about the demonstrations suggests two-thirds of Canadians disagree with the ongoing blockades. The poll also suggests three-quarters of Canadians think the federal government needs to act immediately to address quality of life issues affecting the country’s Indigenous people.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said the protests by “radical activists” are a warm-up act in the next battles against the Trans Mountain expansion project and the proposed Teck Frontier oilsands mine in northeastern Alberta.
Scheer told Parliament that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has encouraged these types of protests by cancelling other projects based on political considerations.
1:32Aerial footage of rail blockade west of Edmonton Aerial footage of rail blockade west of Edmonton
On Tuesday, Trudeau called for patience, recognizing the crisis as “a critical moment for our country and for our future.” The prime minister acknowledged that people on all sides are frustrated.
Protesters on site west of Edmonton Wednesday said they plan on staying put until RCMP leave Wet’suwet’en territory.
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
On Tuesday, Trudeau called for patience, recognizing the crisis as “a critical moment for our country and for our future.” The prime minister acknowledged that people on all sides are frustrated.
Protesters on site west of Edmonton Wednesday said they plan on staying put until RCMP leave Wet’suwet’en territory.
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
A group called Cuzzins for Wet'suwet'en blocked a rail line west of Edmonton Wednesday, Feb. 19 2020. Dave Carels, Global News
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