National

B.C. old-growth protesters celebrate as contempt prosecution has 'collapsed'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Apr, 2023 01:48 PM

The B-C Prosecution Service says it has withdrawn criminal contempt charges against 11 more people accused of breaching a court injunction during old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island.

Gordon Comer with the prosecution service says they’re reviewing other cases affected by a court ruling back in February that acquitted protester Ryan Henderson on contempt charges due to the R-C-M-P’s failure to properly read an injunction to Fairy Creek blockaders.

Comer says charges are being reviewed on a case-by-cases basis and that the Crown is appealing the Henderson ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Lawyer Karen Mirsky, who has defended several clients facing Fairy Creek contempt charges, says the R-C-M-P’s decision to use a short-form script of the injunction went against long-standing and established legal principles, leading to the collapse of upwards of a 150 cases involving Fairy Creek protesters.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. in climate pact with U.S. West Coast states

The statement of co-operation also aims to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and to protect communities from climate disasters including droughts, wildfires and heat waves. The four jurisdictions have differing climate agendas but share the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at least 80 per cent by 2050.

B.C. in climate pact with U.S. West Coast states

Wildfire in Metro Vancouver park now under control

A statement from the district says a 50-person firefighting crew has established a 15-metre "wet line" around the perimeter of the fire in Coquitlam's Minnekhada Regional Park, preventing any further spread. It says ground crews are now focused on dousing remaining hot spots.

Wildfire in Metro Vancouver park now under control

Opposition BC Liberals call for MLA pay freeze

The Opposition BC Liberals are calling for an all-party pay freeze as a show of solidarity with people struggling to make ends meet during inflationary times. Liberal house leader Todd Stone says members of the legislature could be in line for a salary increase in April of 10 per cent or more, amounting to raises of at least $10,000.

Opposition BC Liberals call for MLA pay freeze

B.C. pharmacists welcome new prescription powers

As the changes are rolled out, B.C. pharmacists said the smoothness of the transition will depend on the reimbursement model, staffing supports and whether there's an added administrative burden. Like many health professionals, pharmacists have faced burnout and labour shortages since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

B.C. pharmacists welcome new prescription powers

Canada confirms 1,406 monkeypox cases

Of the confirmed cases, 674 are from Ontario, 521 from Quebec, 162 from British Columbia, 41 from Alberta, three from Saskatchewan, two from the Yukon and one each from Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick, the health agency added on Wednesday.

Canada confirms 1,406 monkeypox cases

11 year old boy struck by a minivan in Richmond in a suspected hit-and-run

Shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday frontline Richmond RCMP officers responded to the area of No. 1 Road and Tucker Avenue after reports of an 11-year old boy being struck. The boy was pushing his bicycle in a marked pedestrian crosswalk and struck by a gray minivan. This minivan then proceeded to sideswipe another vehicle before fleeing the scene.