The latest on protests across Canada in support of anti-pipeline demonstrators

Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia:

Canadian National Railway says blockades of its rail lines in Vancouver and the Toronto area today have ended.

CN says in a statement it has “deep concerns” about the safety of its employees, the public and protesters.

At the demonstration in Vaughan, Ont., the company says protesters climbed on and between railcars, which is dangerous because they can move at any time.

GO Transit says its services in the Barrie-Toronto corridor were affected today because about 80 people were on the tracks it uses north of Toronto.

A group called Toronto Wet’suwet’en Solidarity says it blocked the tracks in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in their opposition to the Coastal Gaslink pipeline project in northern B.C.

The protest in east Vancouver was also in support of the Wet’suwet’en.

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An hours-long meeting has ended over a rail blockade near Belleville, Ont., with Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller saying progress has been made but there is no news on whether the protest is going to end.

Miller says he plans to take what he learned after the meeting on Tyendinaga Mohawk territory back to Ottawa to share with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and cabinet.

He says the talks were productive.

Members of the Mohawk Nation are blocking the line in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en in their opposition to a natural gas pipeline across their traditional territory in northern British Columbia.

Miller arrived at about 10 a.m. Eastern time for the meetings and emerged after 7 p.m.

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Meetings went into the evening between the federal Indigenous services minister and representatives of the Mohawk Nation over a rail blockade that has shut down rail services across Eastern Canada.

Marc Miller didn’t want to predict the outcome of his meetings as he arrived this morning.

But he says dialogue between the two sides is needed.

Members of the Mohawk Nation are blocking the line in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en in their opposition to a natural gas pipeline across their traditional territory in northern British Columbia.

Miller met with protesters at the blockade before travelling further into the First Nation for a private meeting.

The blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk territory near Belleville, Ont., is in its 10th day.

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A group called Toronto Wet’suwet’en Solidarity says it is blocking tracks at Canadian National Railway’s MacMillan Yard in the Toronto area.

CN Rail could not immediately be reached for comment.

Media reports and tweets from the group show people standing on the tracks holding signs at the yard in Vaughan, Ont.

The group says it is supporting the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in their opposition to the Coastal Gaslink pipeline project in northern B.C.

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The federal Indigenous services minister arrived for a meeting today with representatives of the Mohawk Nation to discuss a rail blockade that has shut down rail services across Eastern Canada.

Marc Miller says it is time to talk as members of the Mohawk Nation block the line in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en in their opposition to a natural gas pipeline across their traditional territory in northern B.C.

The blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk territory near Belleville, Ont., is in its 10th day. 

Similar blockades across the country have cut both passenger and freight rail services, with pressure mounting on the federal government to end them.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15. 2020

The Canadian Press