News reports say several people were arrested Monday at a rail blockade near Belleville, Ontario, after protesters ignored a midnight deadline to clear the site, the first in a series of locations where rail service has been disrupted across Canada. New blockades appeared elsewhere over the weekend.
Some VIA Rail Canada and commuter rail service was expected to return today, however.
Global News reported there had been arrests, although it also said Ontario Provincial Police have not indicated a specific number, or if anyone is facing charges as a result. Witnesses reported a number of protesters had been led away, some in handcuffs. In a statement quoted by the CBC, the police said they were obligated to enforce an injunction obtained by Canadian National earlier this month because “all avenues to successfully negotiate a peacefyk resolution have been exhausted an a valid court injunction remains in effect.” As of Monday afternoon, a snowplow that had been blocking the tracks had been removed by two industrial-zized tow trucks and CN crews were inspecting and working on the right-of-way.
The Belleville blockade began Feb. 6, sparked by protests over a pipeline in British Columbi. It began a series of protests that have led to curtailed freight and passenger service, and layoffs by both Canadian National and VIA. The Globe and Mail reports that members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Nation who have been participating in the protest were promised immunity from prosecution by Ontario Provincial Police if they dismanted the blockade by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, but were still in place as of this morning. But police began to move in as of 8 a.m. local time.
The move followed a Friday call by Canadian Prime Minister for injunctions against the protests to be obeyed. He had previously called for negotiations to end the standoffs, but said Friday that the government “can not have dialogue when only one party is coming to the table.”
While a blockade near Montreal ended over the weekend, another appeared Saturday in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The blockade at St. Lambert, Quebec, ended late Friday night after police arrived to enforce an injunction. Its removal meant VIA planned to resume service between Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City today, and that Exo commuter service on the Mont-Saint-Hilare line was to resume this morning. Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal service, however, remained among routes where service is still cancelled, with none of those lines projected to return to service before Thursday, Feb. 27. Check VIA’s website for more information.
The Saskatoon blockade did allow at least one train to pass on Saturday night, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports. That blockade did see some tense moments as counterprotesters took up a position on the opposite side of the tracks from the group supporting the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, who are opposed to the British Columbia pipeline.
— — Latest update at 1:30 p.m. CST with additional information. This is a developing story. Watch Trains News Wire for further developments.
