Advertisement

B.C. approved deployment of more RCMP officers in Wet’suwet’en territory, say groups

RCMP walk through the Unist'ot'en camp on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, as they conclude a five-day enforcement of a court injunction clearing access to the area for gas pipeline crews. Sarah MacDonald / Global News

Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs say Premier John Horgan wasn’t truthful when he said the province had no control over the RCMP before Mounties enforced an injunction against pipeline opponents in northern British Columbia last month.

The chiefs have jointly released a letter with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs that they say was sent by Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan on Jan. 27.

“To be clear, no elected official in British Columbia directs police operations,” said Farnworth in a statement.

The Ministry of Public Safety says the RCMP has the ability to request additional resources for temporary situations, which it did following the B.C. Supreme Court’s granting of the injunciton.

Story continues below advertisement

It said it is the minister’s responsibility to ensure police have adequate resources, but that it is up to the RCMP to decide whether, when and how enforcement takes place.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The RCMP and a spokesperson for Horgan could not immediately be reached for comment.

WATCH: (Feb. 20, 2020) B.C. watchdog on RCMP operations in Wet’suwet’en territory

Click to play video: 'B.C. watchdog on RCMP operations in Wet’suwet’en territory'
B.C. watchdog on RCMP operations in Wet’suwet’en territory

In the letter, Farnworth declared a “provincial emergency” under the Provincial Police Service Agreement and authorized the internal redeployment of resources within the provincial police service.

Ten days later, the RCMP began enforcing an injunction granted by the B.C. Supreme Court to Coastal GasLink, which is building a natural gas pipeline across northern B.C., on Feb. 6 and ultimately arrested 28 people on Wet’suwet’en traditional territory.

Story continues below advertisement

In a statement, the chiefs point to comments by Horgan to the media before and after the letter was sent claiming government does not direct the RCMP.

-With files from Global News

Sponsored content

AdChoices