Trudeau calls for ‘peaceful’ end to rail blockades
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says reconciliation requires a “peaceful resolution” to the blockades that have kept rail traffic from operating across the country.
In question period in the House of Commons, the government took intense heat from opposition parties over its handling of the blockades.
Earlier today, Ontario Provincial Police took down a railway blockade on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in eastern Ontario, set up more than two weeks ago in solidarity with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation against a natural gas project in British Columbia.
Several people were arrested though it is not clear yet if they will face charges.
Shortly after the arrests began Trudeau called a meeting of his cabinet’s incident-response group to discuss the economic impacts of the blockades and the police actions underway.
He also spoke to several premiers this morning and is urging rail companies to use alternate routes to keep critical goods flowing.
