Coastal GasLink statement on worksite access
Updated: Nov. 19, 2021 - 3:50 p.m. PST
Coastal GasLink can confirm that critical supplies, such as water and food, arrived at our two workforce accommodation sites yesterday evening. We continue to provide regular communication to our workers, through our contracting partners, as we have done throughout the last week.
We understand that the enforcement activities around the Morice River drill site location have now been completed and the Marten Forest Service Road has been cleared of obstacles.
It is unfortunate that the RCMP must take these steps so that lawful access to our lodges and public forestry roads can be restored and to ensure the safety of those in the area including our workforce, contractors, and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.
Coastal GasLink continues to actively monitor the situation and our concern remains for the safety of everyone involved.
Updated: Nov. 18, 2021 - 3:15 p.m. PST
Coastal GasLink has been advised that the Morice Forest Service Road has been cleared by the RCMP and can now be safely utilized to bring water, food and other critical supplies to over 500 workers who have been stranded for almost four days.
We are further advised that the road is not yet secured for public travel but we will continue to provide further updates as the situation develops.
Coastal GasLink is committed to dialogue and are actively monitoring the situation and our concern remains for the safety of everyone involved.
Updated: Nov. 18, 2021 - 9:55 a.m. PST
Coastal GasLink understands that the RCMP have begun to enforce the B.C. Supreme Court injunction that prohibits interference with Coastal GasLink’s permitted construction activities around the Morice River - including illegal protest activities.
As we have seen over the past week, these illegal activities have been escalating dangerously, putting our workforce and public safety at serious risk. The blockade of the Morice Forest Service Road threatens the health and safety of over 500 workers who are currently trapped. It is unfortunate that the RCMP must take this step so that lawful access to our lodges and public forestry roads can be restored. Our concern is for the safety of everyone involved. As soon as it is safe to do so, water and other supplies will be brought into our workforce lodges.
Our top priority remains the safety of those in the area, including our workforce, contractors, and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members. Coastal GasLink’s preference is to always seek constructive dialogue and share information. Unfortunately, as protest group public statements made clear, the protest group at the Morice River had no interest in dialogue.
Our project is over 50 per cent complete, fully permitted and has unprecedented support and agreements with all 20 elected Indigenous groups across the 670 km route. Years of planning, review and discussion with regulators, experts, Indigenous and local governments have produced a world class project plan with approved permits to build the project - including for the Morice River crossing.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2021 - 11:00 a.m. PST
Coastal GasLink remains very concerned for the safety of our over 500 workers who are currently stranded at our two lodges in the area as illegal blockades on the Morice River public forest service road continue to block all exits and access. It has now been three days and supplies, including water, are at risk of running out and access to medical care in the event of an emergency continues to be obstructed.
In the last 24 hours, opponents have significantly damaged the forest service road at the Lamprey Creek Bridge (pictures below). The road is now unsafe and impassable. These ongoing, unlawful actions put people at risk for serious harm and are dangerous, reckless and unacceptable.
Coastal GasLink appreciates the seriousness with which the situation is being taken by government and the urgent need for action to resolve the situation. Coastal GasLink remains committed to finding a lasting resolution and has made extensive efforts to engage and dialogue, however opposition have made it clear and stated publicly they have no interest in dialogue.
Coastal GasLink security footage captured Nov. 14, 2021 shows opponents felling trees on the forest service road.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2021 - 1:25 p.m. PST
Coastal GasLink is concerned for the safety of our workforce due to three new illegal blockades on the Morice River public forest service road blocking all exits and access to two lodges housing more than 500 of our workers, including Wet’suwet’en members. There are safety hazards on the forest service road resulting from felled trees. Project vehicles and equipment have also been vandalized in the area. These unlawful actions have put our people in danger, stranding them at work lodges where supplies will run out in the coming days and limiting their access to medical care in the event of an emergency. We have made the RCMP aware of our concern about the safety of our workers due to these unlawful actions, the latest in a series of illegal opposition activity.
An enforceable B.C. Supreme Court injunction is in place, allowing Coastal GasLink continued safe access in the area. This project is fully authorized and permitted by the federal and provincial governments and has the unprecedented support of local and Indigenous communities and agreements with all 20 elected Indigenous groups across the 670 km route.
Multiple efforts by Coastal GasLink to engage in dialogue with the Office of the Wet’suwet‘en and Hereditary Chiefs have not been responded to. We are committed to dialogue and are actively monitoring the situation to make every reasonable effort to support lasting resolutions.
The project is over halfway complete, and construction is active throughout the remainder of the corridor. Almost 100 per cent of the route is cleared, with 200 km of pipe being installed to date and reclamation activities are already underway in many areas.
Aerial footage of safety hazards at KM 39 on the Morice forest service road, including felled trees. View the photo and download here.
Aerial footage of safety hazards at KM 63.5 on the Morice forest service road, including felled trees. View the photo and download here.
The map below outlines the locations of Coastal GasLink workforce accommodation sites and the illegal blockades on the Morice River public forest service road. View the map and download it here.
Updated: Nov. 14, 2021 - 3:45 p.m. PST
Early this morning, Coastal GasLink was informed by the Gidimt'en Checkpoint that they intend to evict Coastal GasLink from areas around the Morice River and block public forest service roads. An enforceable B.C. Supreme Court injunction is in place, allowing Coastal GasLink continued safe access in the area. This is in the same region where the group has illegally blockaded a Coastal GasLink worksite, in defiance of the B.C. Supreme Court injunction, since Sept. 25. Our primary concern continues to be for the safety of our workforce and the public. Coastal GasLink has continued to seek dialogue to resolve this situation, however, to date these offers have not resulted in any response. We are actively monitoring this evolving situation and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
We want to correct false reports that were made about Coastal GasLink issuing a mandatory evacuation of the workforce and that Coastal GasLink requested time to comply with the eviction notice. These statements are false, as is a document that was posted online purporting to be authored by Coastal GasLink.
Updated: Oct. 27, 2021 - 5:30 p.m. PST
Coastal GasLink is increasingly concerned about the safety of our workforce and the public following an escalation in unlawful and dangerous activities by opponents that have put people, property, and the environment at risk.
On Oct. 24, 2021, a group of opponents confronted our crews on an active construction site approximately 40 km west of the Morice River which can only be accessed leaving the forest service road and entering the construction right of way. This group arrived unannounced and was not permitted access to the site due to safety concerns. Our crews offered to facilitate access at another time when it could be made safe to do so. Subsequently, crew vehicles were blocked in both directions and prevented from exiting; our people subsequently departed the area and one vehicle was able to pass through.
On Oct. 25, 2021, new blockades were put in place on the Shea forest service road and on Coastal GasLink right of way. This road is the only year-round access to one of our construction lodges housing more than 400 men and women. In addition to blockades, heavy equipment has been damaged and stolen, including by force, at multiple locations. The prevention of the safe flow of people and supplies, like water, fuel and food to our people is dangerous and unacceptable. These activities are directly impacting the safety of our employees and contractors.
As this situation evolves, we remain in close contact with our prime contractor. Our primary concern is for the safety of our people and the public and every reasonable effort is being made by our teams to de-escalate this situation.
Our work is lawful, authorized, fully permitted and has the unprecedented support of local and Indigenous communities and agreements in place with all 20 elected First Nation councils across the 670 km route. These agreements include Wet’suwet’en Nation communities who are benefiting from training, employment and contracting opportunities.
November 10, 2021