Update: The three women taken into custody earlier today have now been released.
Outcomes of enforcement of court-ordered injunction in Stewiacke
This morning, Nova Scotia RCMP attended a site on Riverside Rd. in Fort Ellis, Stewiacke, to enforce a court-ordered injunction against demonstrators impeding a natural gas project at Riverside Rd. in Fort Ellis, Stewiacke. The Order included obligations for the RCMP to enforce the terms of the Injunction.
At about 9 a.m., our Division Liaison Team, which is a team of specially trained RCMP members who
build relationships with various groups/communities to mitigate conflict, spoke with demonstrators in the hope the terms of the Injunction Order would be met voluntarily. The demonstrators were open to dialogue, which was maintained for more than three hours.
When it was determined that the terms of the injunction were not going to be met voluntarily, discussions continued and members took three women into custody without incident for Civil Contempt of an Injunction Order.
A temporary exclusion zone and road closure were in place earlier today, but the areas are now open. We will maintain an increased presence in the area to monitor the situation; resources will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
The Nova Scotia RCMP is impartial in this dispute and respects the Indigenous culture and their connection to Mother Earth, the company’s lawful right to complete its mandated work and the Court. Our primary goal is the safety and security of all involved while preserving the right to peaceful, lawful and safe demonstration within the terms set by the Supreme Court in the Injunction Order.
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On March 27, the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia issued a temporary Injunction Order against demonstrators interfering with a natural gas project at Riverside Rd. in Fort Ellis, Stewiacke. The Order included obligations for the RCMP to enforce the terms of the
Injunction should they not be voluntarily complied with.
The Nova Scotia RCMP is impartial in this dispute and respects the Indigenous culture and their connection to Mother Earth along with the company’s lawful right to complete its mandated work.
We are hopeful that the terms of the Injunction Order will be met through open dialogue with the demonstrators by our Division Liaison Team, which is a team of specially trained RCMP members who build relationships with various groups/communities to mitigate conflict. Should that not happen and demonstrators continue to occupy the site at the main entrance to the natural gas project, thus disobeying the court ordered-injunction, the RCMP will enforce the Order.
Our primary goal is the safety and security of all involved while preserving the right to peaceful, lawful and safe demonstration within the terms set by the Supreme Court in the Injunction Order.
The following outlines what residents of Stewiacke and surrounding areas can expect:
Increase in police presence
You will notice an increase in police resources in the Stewiacke area. It’s important that there are officers available to respond as needed. For public and police safety, body worn cameras will be used.
Exclusion zone and road closure
A temporary exclusion zone and road closure is in place for public and police safety reasons. The areas are clearly marked and will only be maintained as long as necessary. Residents of the adjacent area have been made aware and are being accommodated.
Updates will be provided via the Nova Scotia RCMP website and Facebook and Twitter feeds as available.
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Source : Media Release
