Approximately two dozen protesters occupied the Vancouver constituency office of Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould for five hours on April 26 demanding a dialogue with the minister to address the Kinder Morgan and Trans Mountain pipeline.
Although they were informed the minister was in Ottawa, the protesters were still intent on speaking to her by phone during their sit-in. However Wilson-Raybould, the MP for Vancouver-Granville, declined to address the protesters or provide any comment on the situation throughout the day.
The organizers of the protest were from two advocacy groups — Vancouver’s Protect the Inlet and Rise and Resist, from Victoria.
Protesters entered the office shortly after 11 a.m., planting themselves both inside and outside the building. A banner reading “No justice in a petrostate” was quickly hung over a portrait of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with more banners to follow containing similar anti-pipeline messages and support for Indigenous groups.
Members of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, including activist Cedar George-Parker, great-grandson of Chief Dan George, also took part in the protest.
“Why are you putting profit over the people,” George-Parker said of Wilson-Raybould. “This is what you’re going to be remembered for.”
Many protesters expressed their willingness to be arrested over the pipeline issue. However as the office’s closing hour of 5 p.m. approached, protesters slowly dispersed.
“I was disappointed [Wilson-Raybould] didn’t choose to comment today,” protester Keith Cherry said. “I’m optimistic that in the future she will comment, because our tactics are just getting started. We’re capable of exerting a great deal of pressure, and I’m confident that the minister will see the light and respond to that eventually.”
Activist Kim A. Hines warned of more protests until their demands are met. “What [politicians] need to realize is they’re not giving us any other choice, so it’s going to happen more.”
