Police Arrest 33 Indigenous Protesters Opposing Canada Gas Pipeline

"Police in Canada arrested 33 indigenous rights protesters on Monday, ending the closure of Vancouver ports in British Columbia province by demonstrators opposed to construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline, but movement of commodities and passenger trains was still disrupted by the ongoing rallies.

Protests have been ongoing since Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed an agreement to build the natural gas pipeline, saying they hold authority over traditional lands, not the elected indigenous band councils the provincial government had consulted.

The rallies are seen as a flashpoint for indigenous rights and reconciliation, and protests have flared up in recent weeks. Police have stepped up arrests which in turn have spurred supporters to block major rail tracks across Ontario and Quebec, forcing train cancellations and impacting movement of propane, grain, feedstocks and other commodities."

Denise Paglinawan and Moira Warburton report for Reuters February 10, 2020.

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"RCMP Arrests Another 7 As Wet'suwet'en Efforts Wrap Up" (CNBC)

Source: Reuters, 02/11/2020