MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Alberta Minister of Environment and Parks and area MLA Jason Nixon says while he respects people’s ability to conduct peaceful protest, he does not believe it is acceptable to do so in violation of the law.
Nixon, the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, was responding to news that a blockade of the CN Rail line was set up in west Edmonton last week.
The protest was part of ongoing national action being conducted in support of Indigenous opposition to the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the hereditary land of the Wet’suwet’en people.
“Given the blockades that are taking place across the county, we continue to respect everybody’s right to protest and to express their concerns about anything politically and that’s part of being a free country," Nixon said in an Albertan interview.
“We also respect the rule of law and we continue to call on the federal government and other jurisdictions to enforce the rule of law.
“While it is important to protect people’s ability to express their concerns, shutting down trains and infrastructure and hurting your fellow countrymen all across the country is not the way to do it.”
The Edmonton blockade was removed on Feb. 19. There have been no rail lines blockaded in Mountain View or Red Deer counties.
