New anti-pipeline blockade set up by protesters west of Edmonton

Protesters have set up a blockade on a CN rail line west of Edmonton, the latest protest staged by supporters of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs over a contentious pipeline project.

A group called Cuzzins for Wet’suwet’en said it is staging the protest “in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en.”

The demonstrators set up the blockade at about 6 a.m. MT Wednesday in the area of 110th Avenue and Range Road 261.

Demonstrators created a large barricade with wooden packing crates covered with a spray-painted banner reading “no consent.” 

Supporters of the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have disrupted large portions of the country’s freight and passenger traffic with blockades for more than a week. 

Several hereditary chiefs are opposing the planned construction of the $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline across northern B.C., which would run through Wet’suwet’en territory.

Police have largely refrained from direct action against the blockades since the RCMP entered Wet’suwet’en territory to enforce an injunction earlier this month, where opponents of the Coastal GasLink project were preventing access to a work site for the pipeline.

More than 20 people were arrested, sparking the blockades across the country. 

Officials with CN rail were not available to comment on Wednesday’s blockade.

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