Burnaby RCMP won’t arrest Kinder Morgan pipeline protesters today

Late last week, the B.C. Supreme Court told anti-pipeline protesters on Burnaby Mountain that they must vacate the area by 4 p.m. today (November 17).

Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC, a Kinder Morgan subsidiary, won the injunction after protesters stopped employees and contractors from carrying out drilling and survey work in the conservation area in October.

This afternoon, however, Burnaby RCMP announced that they don't plan to arrest any of the protesters gathered on the mountain—well, today at least.

Police issued the following statement:

The Burnaby RCMP will continue to ensure the right of those who are assembled on Burnaby Mountain to carry out a lawful and peaceful protest and we encourage people to continue in a peaceful manner that does not infringe on the injunction.

While the Burnaby RCMP are under a court-directed enforcement order, it does recognize our authority of discretionary powers. That discretionary authority allows police to take time to assess the situation.

Today, we will be going to the site to read out the enforcement order to those assembled. This will allow those assembled to fully understand their role and our role in this process. For ease of reference we have posted the injunction and enforcement order on the Burnaby RCMP website.

Following the reading of the injunction and enforcement order, we will continue to monitor and assess the situation.

At all times, the Burnaby RCMP will strive to balance the need to maintain civil order and the democratic right to hold demonstrations. But, police must carry out our lawful duties under the Criminal Code of Canada and as directed by the enforcement order issued by Justice Austin Cullen on Nov. 14, 2014.