As RCMP prepare for enforcement order in Wet'suwet'en; MP Bachrach calls for Prime Minister to hold talks

The Morice Forest Service Road is the location for a new
exclusion zone by the RCMP today, as plans to enforce a court
injunction prepare to move forward

The RCMP out of Houston have provided for the first indication that enforcement of the Coastal GasLink court ordered injunction in the Wet'suwet'en is about to progress, issuing an exclusion zone advisory earlier this morning.

We had committed to respecting the 7-day discussion period, referred to by the Wet’suwet’en as Wiggus, by not taking action to enforce the court-ordered injunction. However, given that the stakeholders were not able to come to an agreement during the Wiggus, and the RCMP has maximized the discretionary time frame given by the Court, we will be enforcing the injunction today, February 6, 2020.

The access control checkpoint, which was created on January 13, 2020 to prevent further escalation of the situation and to mitigate safety concerns over hazardous items placed on the roadway, has now been established as a full exclusion zone. 

As of February 6, 2020, the RCMP will not allow access to anyone who is not part of the enforcement team, with some exceptions for Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and Elected Council members by arrangement with the Senior Commander. 

 The exclusion zone's purpose is to temporarily create an area where police and Coastal GasLink work can safely operate to deploy heavy machinery and equipment needed to clear hazards and re-establish access as intended by the Court.

The full statement from the RCMP can be examined here.

The enforcement plans moved forward following the end of discussions earlier this week, the talks were taking place with former MP Nathan Cullen serving as a liaison.

The two statements from both parties to the talks can be reviewed below:

Statement from the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs

Statement from the Province of British Columbia

With the provincial/Wet'suwet'en engagement seemingly at an end, Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach called on the Prime Minister to become involved in the dispute on Wednesday, noting that the Federal presence has been missing in action.

"Today I asked the Prime Minister why, when he claims no relationship is more important to him than that with indigenous people, and with so much on the line, he has refused to meet with the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs."-- Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach in the House on Wednesday



Media reports from the region indicate that some arrests have already taken place in these early hours of Thursday morning, you can review some of the past background leading up to the enforcement order from our Victoria Viewpoints feature on our political blog D'Arcy McGee.

More items on the provincial political scene can be explored from our Legislature Archive.