Vehicles towed as old-growth logging protests continue on Vancouver Island
Despite the approval of a two-year deferral on old-growth logging in southwestern Vancouver Island, protesters continue to camp in the area.
There are several reasons why, according to protesters, though the central one is that activists want old-growth trees to be protected in perpetuity.
"It's a step in the right direction, but that's it, it's just a step," said protester and Nuu-chah-nulth member Sage Mundy of the two-year deferral.
The two-year suspension of old-growth logging in the region came into effect after the deferral was requested by three Vancouver Island First Nations – the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht nations.
The deferral protects 884 hectares of old-growth forests in the Fairy Creek watershed and 1,150 hectares of old-growth in the central Walbran valley for the next two years as the nations develop long-term stewardship plans.
Leaders of the First Nations say they expect protesters not to interfere with other approved logging operations in the area.
"Visitors to the territory need to acknowledge the authority of Pacheedaht Hereditary Chief Frank Queesto Jones," said Pacheedaht Elected Chief Jeff Jones on Thursday.
The matter is complicated, however, as some Indigenous Elders who disagree with elected leadership are standing with protesters calling for greater protection of old-growth forests in B.C.
INJUNCTION ENFORCEMENT
As protests continue, forestry company Teal-Jones says some protesters have had their vehicles towed for parking in restricted areas.
The company says it is only removing vehicles that RCMP have identified as breaching a court-ordered injunction that allows blockades to be removed if they are impeding logging work.
"In some cases vehicle owners have removed their tires, positioned their vehicle at a narrow point, and taken other steps to hinder access and make removal as difficult as possible," said a Teal-Jones spokesperson on Thursday. "That strongly indicates the people parking those vehicles know they’re doing so illegally."
The company says that all costs related to towing and storing a vehicle is the responsibility of the vehicle's owner.
A notice form sent to CTV News shows that Teal-Jones is requesting $2,500 to return each vehicle.
"This amount is partial compensation for the damages that the vehicle caused Teal Cedar," reads the notice.
CTV News has reached out to RCMP for further details on vehicles being towed.
As of June 10, RCMP say that roughly 206 people had been arrested, mostly for breaching the injunction or obstruction. Of those people, at least 10 had been arrested once before.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.