FREDERICTON – New Brunswick Premier David Alward is promising to keep the lines of communication open with the First Nation community of Elsipogtog in hopes of preventing more violence during shale gas protests.
Alward met with Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock and other officials for more than three hours tonight in Fredericton, the day after protesters in Rexton clashed with the RCMP.
The meeting ended without any specific strategies to keep the peace, but both sides say they will meet again next week to continue discussions.
In the meantime, Sock says his community needs time to heal.
He calls yesterday’s protest a “black mark” on his community, the province and the RCMP.
Meanwhile, the RCMP’s commanding officer in New Brunswick defended the police response to a shale gas protest where officers seized firearms and improvised explosives, saying Friday that if the Mounties hadn’t acted, lives could have been in danger.
“There came a point in time where we knew that this situation was no longer safe and that we had to do something before it turned into a situation where, regrettably, somebody could’ve been injured or even killed, and that’s what triggered the decision,” assistant commissioner Roger Brown told a news conference in Fredericton.
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Chief Supt. Wayne Gallant said the improvised explosive devices found by police Thursday were modified to discharge shrapnel and used a fuse-ignition system. Officers also seized guns and knives after moving in to enforce a court-ordered injunction to remove protesters at the site of a compound in Rexton where SWN Resources stored exploration equipment.
The Mounties said six police vehicles including an unmarked van were burned and Molotov cocktails were tossed at them before they fired non-lethal sock rounds – beanbag type bullets – and pepper spray to defuse the situation. But Brown said no officers discharged their firearms at any point Thursday.
“Our officers demonstrated incredible professionalism as they worked to resolve the situation under tremendously difficult and dangerous circumstances,” he said.
“I will wear my heart on my sleeve for a second. I am so thankful that nothing happened yesterday because we could be having a totally different press conference today. We are so fortunate that this unfolded like it did.”
READ MORE: N.B. shale gas clash leads to protests across Canada
He said he did not know how the weapons ended up at the encampment at the protest site.
“That is quite a large area and we did not have full control over that area,” he said.
He said of the 40 arrested for firearms offences, threats, intimidation, mischief and violating the injunction, 31 have been released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.
The protesters, some of whom were members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, were demonstrating for weeks against the development of a shale gas sector in the province.
Earlier in Halifax, federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay called for an end to any further confrontations and the resumption of talks to resolve the dispute over shale gas exploration.
“There’s obviously a need to respect the law and to avoid violence and return to discussions,” he said at a roundtable discussion on justice issues.
READ MORE: What is shale gas, and why are people protesting against testing for it?
“That is what we’re all encouraging and hoping for, but when violence erupts you can expect the police are there to keep the peace and to protect citizens.”
The RCMP blocked Route 134 on Sept. 29 after a protest there began spilling onto the road. Protesters subsequently cut down trees that were placed across another part of the road, blocking the entrance to the compound.
The protesters want SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province.
SWN Resources issued a statement Friday saying it is in the early stages of exploration in New Brunswick.
“Our employees are dedicated to the safety of people and the environment, as well as ensuring we are in full compliance with all regulations,” it said.
Demonstrations were also held in other parts of the country Friday to support the protesters in Rexton.
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