Dozens of people supporting Indigenous hereditary leaders in their fight against a natural gas pipeline blocked all entrances and exits to the B.C. Parliament Buildings in Victoria on Tuesday, disrupting the kickoff of the legislature’s spring session hours before it even began.

Demonstrators stopped arriving MLAs, staffers and reporters at every ground-level entrance and exit to the building early Tuesday, chanting and shouting “shame” as they tried to enter. One reporter ultimately climbed the side of the stone steps to get inside; other workers already inside were asked to stay put due to security concerns.

The scene was a stark contrast to the usual pomp and ceremony on the day of the throne speech. B.C.’s lieutenant governor was set to deliver the speech later Tuesday, but the demonstration had already forced officials to cancel some tradition surrounding the event.

Protesters, led by Indigenous young people, camped out at the front of the legislature for days in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders and their fight against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is set to run through the heart of the nation’s traditional territory in Northern B.C. Some supporters have been sleeping at the legislature for nearly a week.

The lieutenant governor usually arrives to much fanfare on the front steps of the legislature for the throne speech before the premier escorts her indoors. On Tuesday, due to the protest, Lt. Gov. Janet Austin was scheduled to meet Premier John Horgan inside the Parliament Buildings before delivering the address.

It is not clear how or when Austin will enter the building, given the blockade.

A traditional military salute and honour guard that typically marks the lieutenant governor’s arrival was also cancelled. The prorogation ceremony — the beginning of the day’s events, officially ending the previous session before the new one begins — has also been postponed for three hours due to the demonstration.

The premier postponed his scheduled, post-speech afternoon news conference “until further notice.”

CBC News will livestream Austin’s speech here:

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth was inside the legislature ahead of the demonstration Tuesday and said staff are “continuing the day’s work.”

“I think right now, what the protesters are trying to do is get their point across, and the point of that is obviously trying to obstruct the proceedings and the work in this building,” Farnworth said from the building’s halls.

“This is the people’s house, this is a place where protest takes place. It’s not the first time a protest takes place at this legislature and it won’t be the last.”

In a recent interview, Horgan told the Canadian Press the speech will tout the province’s progress on affordability, the strength of the economy and other accomplishments from the past three years.

He said the elimination of Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums, more child-care options and raises in the minimum wage are among his government’s achievements, but more needs to be done to improve affordability.

He specifically cited gas prices and cellphone charges as issues the government often hears about, and promises they will be addressed in the throne speech.

The government has already announced details of upcoming legislation to lower insurance premiums by up to 20 per cent, or an average of $400 per driver.

Horgan has previously said the Coastal GasLink pipeline is of vital economic and social importance to northern B.C. He said the courts have decided the pipeline can proceed and the rule of law must prevail.

But last week’s enforcement of a court injunction by RCMP to remove the hereditary chiefs’ supporters from a pipeline access route south of Houston, B.C., has led to protests across Canada.

Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the NDP has been downplaying a poor record of addressing major issues in B.C., including job losses in the forestry sector.

Interim Green Leader Adam Olsen said the party’s two-member caucus would like to see B.C. shift its economic focus to innovation technologies and away from traditional resource industries.

Olsen said the Greens plan to maintain an agreement that keeps the minority NDP government in power until the next provincial election in October 2021.

The Greens are holding a leadership contest in June to replace Andrew Weaver, who is sitting in the legislature as an Independent after announcing he won’t seek re-election next year.

Horgan’s government came to power in 2017 due to an agreement with Green Party MLAs, in which the latter said they would support the NDP on matters of confidence and supply.

The government will table its 2020 budget next week.

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