WEST KELOWNA – The occupation of Premier Christy Clark’s constituency office continued for a second day in West Kelowna on Thursday.
“We would all prefer to sleep in our own beds,” says Chief Aaron Sam of the Lower Nicola native Band. “This is not something we are excited about, staying in Premier’s office. It’s a place of last resort but this is an important issue for our community members”
The issue revolves around treated sewage being trucked in from the Okanagan to land near Merritt. While a month-long roadblock of Highway 8 has forced bio-waste trucks to turn around, the protestors complain there’s been little reaction from the government. The inaction prompted local band leaders to take the matter to the next level, saying they’ll occupy the Premier’s office until a moratorium on the shipment of bio-solids is in place.
‘The government has an obligation, a constitutional obligation to consult with us when there is potential impacts on our lands and waters,” says Sam.
Since the occupation began Wednesday afternoon the demonstrators say they have had some dialogue, but nothing has come of it yet. The protestors have suggested mediation, but they say the government has also dismissed that idea.
For her part, Minister of Environment Mary Polak says the door is always open for dialogue, but the occupation must first come to an end.
The demonstrators participating in the occupation are being monitored by the RCMP to ensure the protest is peaceful.
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