National

CN Rail drops contempt case against LNG protesters

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jan, 2022 01:40 PM

VANCOUVER - Canadian National Railway says it will not pursue criminal charges against protesters accused of defying an injunction and blocking a CN rail line in northwestern British Columbia nearly two years ago.

The BC Prosecution Service announced in April it was not in the public interest to pursue criminal contempt charges against protesters, but a B.C. Supreme Court ruling last month found CN could continue its own legal action.

In an email statement Friday, Canadian National says it is satisfied the injunction was "ultimately enforced" and the company "does not intend to pursue criminal or civil contempt against any of the protesters."

Twelve people, including three hereditary chiefs, were arrested for blockading CN Rail's north line near New Hazelton in February 2020.

The arrests occurred as demonstrations, including several rail blockades, took place across Canada in solidarity with Indigenous opposition to construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline across hereditary territories in northern B.C.

An update posted by Coastal GasLink this week says construction of the 670-kilometre pipeline between Dawson Creek and the liquefied natural gas facility near Kitimat is 60 per cent finished, with completion expected by the end of this year.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Catalytic converter theft leads to assault on Vancouver woman

On October 4, just before 7:30 a.m., the victim confronted two men who were actively removing the catalytic converter from her vehicle, which was parked near Renfrew Street and East 1st Avenue. The suspects deployed bear spray when the victim approached them. The suspects are still outstanding.

Catalytic converter theft leads to assault on Vancouver woman

StatCan says economy added 157,000 jobs in Sept.

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate would have been 8.9 per cent in September, down from 9.1 per cent in August, had it included in calculations Canadians who wanted to work but didn't search for a job.

StatCan says economy added 157,000 jobs in Sept.

Tam says reason for optimism in fourth wave fight

Dr. Theresa Tam said the efforts made to slow the spread where the virus is surging appear to be working. She said hard lessons must be learned about the risks of removing public health measures too soon, particularly in areas where not enough people have been vaccinated.

Tam says reason for optimism in fourth wave fight

RCMP union will support members who refuse vaccine

The Liberal government announced this week that core public servants, including members and reservists of the RCMP, must be vaccinated or face suspension without pay as early as Nov. 15.

RCMP union will support members who refuse vaccine

'I can't back down' on vaccine message: B.C. MLA

Politicians accustomed to sparring in British Columbia's legislature have joined forces outside the house to push for higher vaccination rates in the north, but a longtime member of the Opposition Liberals says the "Alberta influence" is a factor in a part of B.C. where intensive care units can't accommodate the influx of COVID-19 patients.

'I can't back down' on vaccine message: B.C. MLA

VPD warns public after woman attacked at bus stop

The victim, a 22-year-old South Vancouver resident, was waiting at a bus stop near Knight Street and East 57 Avenue on October 5, when she was approached by a stranger in a red puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood.