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.
Read globeandmail.com. This is NOT an anodyne, walk in the park incident to be quickly forgotten. It’s serious.
Happy to see, but I think you are right Charles they will be back.
Unfortunately this lawlessness has now shown any tom dick and harry protester that it is relatively easy to get attention just by blocking the railway line.
The last time I can recall a large-scale organized disruption of U.S. rail traffic occurred during a United Mine Workers of American (UMWA) in strike in the mid-1970s. A very active UMWA local — headquartered in (bloody) Harlan in southeastern Kentucky — set up roving picket lines on the L&N’s Cumberland Valley Division’s main line between Pineville and Loyall-Harlan. They also derailed a L&N unit coal train near Middlesborough and dynamited at least one coal tipple.
FBI and ATF agents descended on the striking miners like a swarm of Africanized honey bees. A number of UMWA Local officers found themselves engaged in lengthy “interviews” in the Jellico Post Office & Mine Rescue Station.
I was a TV news reporter at the time, and was getting a series of anonymous tips from one “Johnny Coalminer.” I still clearly recall his melodious voice, instructing me to go to a pay phone next to a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Middlesborough and “wait on further instructions.” The “further instructions” usually led me to a lead story for our newscasts and three NBC Nightly News report.
My reporting earned two FBI visits. And one night after the 11:00 newscast, I returned to my Knoxville apartment doorstep to find a neatly wrapped package containing a UMWA-logoed hat, bottle opener, and belt buckle. “We know where you live.”
The show of force brought about a slowing of criminal incidents. Mine entrance picketing continued until the strike was settled.
I will dig out some photos of the picket lines and the derailment and write this up for a TRAINS blog. Look for it in a few days. Those were some exciting days.
Now both sides can sit down but that probably won’t happen.
Photo in globeandmail.com shows OPP in winter uniforms, not riot gear. Number of arrests is either one or zero, depending on who to listen to. Which guarantees they will be back as there is no consequence to their criminality.
Blockades will keep popping up all over Canada until there’s a severe consequence. Meaning, internment, not catch and release.
A nation that 80 years ago put innocent Japanese – Canadians into internment now has to learn how to inter the guilty.
If there is violence, the blood will be on the hands of the criminals, not the authorities.
The best solution would be peaceful dispersal. I hope no police get injured. If the protestors get hurt (hopefully not), it’s on them. It’s there own choice and they need live with the consequence of their criminality.
If any of the protestors are under 18 years old, be it known that the adult criminals are 100% responsible for the safety and the welfare of the children.
I see sloppy writing/poor proofreading here ‘peacefyk’ and ‘Columbi’.
In a way I am glad to see an account of counterprotesters finally making an appearance.
Let the railroads have their one person crews as long as they shorten train lengths to something manageable for one person
The last US strike I can remember that impacted the trains was the opposite. It was the Teamsters truckers strike in the early 70’s.
Illinois Central was overwhelmed with Chicago bound merchandise freight and the consists would block our entire town. Sometimes it was so bad, the IC would hold up the crossing signal for B&O, and they would back up too. And that was only when the IC didn’t derail along the poorly maintained ROW on their secondary lines back then. (the former PD&E)
One derail was so bad, they had to bring up a switcher to break the load at the B&O to clear the diamonds. The town was split in two for nearly 12 hours.
Those were the fun days.