Across the country, this weekend, supporters of the Wet’suwet’en land protectors have risen up in peaceful protest.
In Ottawa, thousands gathered, marching in the streets, and on the Rideau Canal before heading to Parliament Hill.
Rail lines remain blocked in Ontario and CN has shut down service in Eastern Canada.
The Prime Minister cut short his global trip, returning to Ottawa to meet with his top advisors.
PM Trudeau and members of his Incident Response Group, incl. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, are meeting in Ottawa about protests that have halted much of Canada's rail traffic in support of the Wet'suwet'en.https://t.co/cNzOcCe7ku pic.twitter.com/845BkhL8FA
— CBC Politics (@CBCPolitics) February 17, 2020
It had to happen, perhaps a little funny but how many times has this scene from “The Bunker” made it into a political crisis video?
What really happened at @JustinTrudeau's incident response group meeting#WetsuwetenStrong #ShutDownCanada https://t.co/JzbduC56Cc pic.twitter.com/N0YHnnrlos
— Franklin López (@Franklin__Lopez) February 17, 2020
Timmins James Bay MP Charlie Angus was planning to stay home and fight off a cold. Instead the New Democrat MP was out with the Wet’suwet’en supporters. While many are feeling that the moves by the Trudeau Government on reconciliation are dead, Angus says it is not.
I walked with Indigenous youth today.
They are engaged, positive and determined to see change happen on Indigenous and environmental rights.
I disagree with their belief that reconciliation is dead.
It just needs a good kick in the ass.
Wake up Justin.
That's what's happening. pic.twitter.com/Wv5Pi3MM9f— Charlie Angus NDP (@CharlieAngusNDP) February 18, 2020
In Toronto, a thousand people marched in the streets.
To those who were on my social media today, saying all the protestors should be thrown in jail. This one protest had “at least a thousand” participating. So: how many jail cells do you have? https://t.co/sDVyGhGRjy
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) February 18, 2020
Perhaps the voices of the thousands is making the words they are saying all the way to the federal Liberal cabinet.
Following his meeting with his Incident Team, Here are the Prime Minister’s comments and the response from Wet’suwet’en front line land protectors:
If the phone call was to confirm the rcmp leaving our yintah and the cancellation of coastal gaslink, then great. Otherwise, try again. https://t.co/hiOnOMF1VN
— Gidimt’en Checkpoint (@Gidimten) February 17, 2020
Minister Carolyn Bennett Tweeted:
Today I sat down with Min @ScottfraserNDP to talk about finding a peaceful resolution to the blockades across the country and other issues arising from the concerns of Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. See our statement below. pic.twitter.com/AT2R7SVbsE
— Carolyn Bennett (@Carolyn_Bennett) February 17, 2020
