Old-growth activists dump manure at B.C. premier's office, promise more highway disruption
Old-growth logging protesters left a messy surprise on the doorstep of B.C. Premier John Horgan's local constituency office on Wednesday.
The activists dumped approximately four garbage bags of horse manure outside the premier's office in Langford, B.C. at 9 a.m.
At least one of the demonstrators also picked up some of the dung and hurled it at the sign above Horgan's office.
The group Save Old Growth claimed responsibility for the action but the activists left the scene when Mounties arrived shortly after 9 a.m.
Within minutes, local residents had arrived and started shovelling the manure away.
"I live down the street and I'll be putting it right in the garden," neighbour Mark Peterson told CTV News.
Sophia Papp, of Save Old Growth, told CTV News the organization left the manure as a symbol of what it thinks of the Horgan government's priorities when it comes to old-growth logging.
The NDP government has announced deferrals of logging on more than a million hectares of old-growth forest in recent months, but has stopped short of the total ban on logging of old-growth that activists have been demanding.
"They’re still logging old growth," Papp said. "This notion that they’ve deferred areas, well those deferrals are not permanent and actually they’re not deferring areas that they would have logged otherwise.”
Papp said Wednesday's stunt was a precursor to further blockades on highways around the province in the name of stopping old-growth logging.
The group Save Old Growth claimed responsibility for the action but the activists left the scene when Mounties arrived shortly after 9 a.m. (CTV News)
Dozens of people have been arrested since January for blocking roadways around B.C., in some cases super-gluing themselves to the highway.
"As of June 13, blockades will start up again," Papp said. "We’re asking [activists] to take two weeks off work as it’s going to be full-time occupations and blockades."
RCMP INVESTIGATING
West Shore RCMP say they're investigating the incident at Horgan's office as a case of mischief.
Police say they're looking for five people thought to be involved, based on surveillance video taken at the building.
Anyone who recognizes the individuals in the photographs below, or who saw vehicles that seemed to be involved in the protest, is asked to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.
West Shore RCMP are looking to identify people involved in the protest. (West Shore RCMP)
CTV News reached out to Horgan's office for a response to the manure protest, and received a statement from Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth that read, in part:
“Peaceful protest is part of our democratic society. On the other hand, vandalizing property, preventing people from accessing services, and harassing local businesses is deplorable behaviour."
Farnworth went on to express "heartfelt appreciation" to the local residents and business owners who quickly cleaned up the manure.
"For those who employ these reprehensible tactics, I can assure you that you achieve nothing but increasing the frustration of the local community," the minister said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.