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Trudeau cancels diplomatic trip over Canada gas pipeline protests
MONTREAL, Feb 17, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
canceled an official visit to the Caribbean at the last minute due to
indigenous protests that have paralyzed railways in eastern Canada for more
than a week, his office said Sunday.
Following a tour of Africa and Europe, which wrapped up on Friday, Trudeau
was scheduled to visit Barbados on Monday and Tuesday as part of Canada’s bid
for a seat on the UN Security Council.
“The Prime Minister will no longer attend the CARICOM Intersessional Heads
of Government Meeting this week,” his office said in a statement. Foreign
minister Francois-Philippe Champagne will go in his place.
Trudeau called for a crisis meeting Monday morning with the ministers of
finance, public safety, transport and indigenous services, among others, to
try and find a peaceful solution.
The prime minister has been criticized by the opposition for his repeated
absences while protesters have blocked roads, rails and ports across the
country and occupied government offices in a bid to “shut down Canada.”
Canadian National Railway (CN), the third largest railroad in North
America, moves an estimated Can$250 billion (US$190 billion) worth of goods
across Canada each year.
The demonstrators support certain leaders of the indigenous Wet’suwet’en
First Nations people, who are fighting construction of the Coastal GasLink
natural gas pipeline through their traditional lands in westernmost Canada.
The pipeline is part of a Can$40 billion natural gas export project that
also includes a new Pacific coast terminal.
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller visited one of the roadblocks in
Ontario on Saturday. He spent all day talking with protesters and Mohawk
First Nation officials.
He said the discussions had produced modest progress, but no blockades were
lifted.
Several authority figures, including Conservative opposition leader Andrew
Scheer, have called for law enforcement to intervene and lift the blockades,
but Trudeau’s administration has rejected this option. The ongoing protests
are an important test for Trudeau’s efforts for reconciliation with First
Nations people, which he has said is a priority.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0945 hrs