All posts by Canadian Press

Quebec to invest half billion in green transportation

November 1, 2013Urban & TransportCanadian Press

Quebec plans to spend more than a half-billion dollars on a green transportation plan over the next three years.

Premier Pauline Marois says the plan includes up to $8,000 in subsidies for the purchase of electric or hybrid vehicles; and up to $1,000 for people installing a charging unit at home.

She says the goal is to add 12,500 electric vehicles on Quebec roads by 2017, accelerating a program introduced under the previous Charest government.

It also calls for 5,000 public charging stations; 525 electric taxis; and 25 electric trolleys in Montreal.

In the days leading up to the announcement, there was some controversy over the fact that Hydro-Quebec chairman Pierre Karl Peladeau had been sitting in on Parti Quebecois cabinet meetings about the plan.

Peladeau is also the president of Quebecor, which owns the province’s main tabloid papers and private TV network, along with the Sun media chain in English Canada.

Before the announcement, his Journal de Montreal newspaper reported exclusive details of the plan in a multi-page spread, promoted on the cover.

Harper govt extends salmon farm moratorium in BC, critics say DFO ignoring Cohen recommendations

October 31, 2013Oceans, Salmon Farming and AquacultureCanadian Press

VANCOUVER – Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea says she will not lift the moratorium on aquaculture development in British Columbia’s Discovery Islands for the foreseeable future.

The announcement came Wednesday, almost a year after Justice Bruce Cohen released his report into the collapse of the Fraser River sockeye run in 2009 and amidst criticism by environmentalists that the federal government hasn’t acted on the recommendations to protect the stock.

Ottawa’s “black box”

Shea also announced the government included “three major measures” in its Economic Action Plan 2013 to address some of Cohen’s 75 recommendations — a statement that was challenged quickly by Stan Proboszez, a fisheries biologist who works with B.C.’s Watershed Watch Salmon Society.

“What she basically is saying comes out of this black box in Ottawa, I assume, and we don’t know how she is coming to these conclusions,” said Proboszez who participated in the inquiry. “We spent $26 million on looking for solutions.”

Shea said the federal government has committed $57.5 million over five years to help bolster environmental protection in the aquaculture industry, through improved reporting, science and an enhanced regulatory regime.

But Proboszez said past research subsidies have benefited the production side of salmon farming by looking at issues like net strength, noting:

[quote]It doesn’t really do anything to mitigate the risks around salmon farming, which I think is the problem, looking at the disease risks of salmon farming[/quote]

Cohen: “likelihood of harm”

In fact, Cohen found Fraser River sockeye faced a “likelihood of harm” from disease and pathogens on farms, especially in the Discovery Islands, which are located northeast of Campbell River, B.C., between Vancouver Island and the province’s mainland.

Shea said Economic Action Plan 2013 contained a new program to support conservation work in recreational fisheries, noting the government approved 28 projects worth $1.8 million for Pacific salmon.

“Again, that isn’t tied to any specific recommendation,” said Proboszez. “Justice Cohen doesn’t talk about that sort of solution.”

DFO’s actions not tied to Cohen recommendations

The minister also said the government is dedicating all of the money from the Salmon Conservation Stamp to the Pacific Salmon Foundation. She said that means the foundation will receive $1 million more annually.

“My understanding is that they’ve been discussing that action for years, irrespective of the Cohen inquiry, so again that should have likely happened a long time ago any ways,” Proboszez rebutted.

“Again, there’s no recommendation that has anything to do with that action.”

Proboszez declined comment on Shea’s announcement about the Discovery Island moratorium because he said he had not yet read the minister’s statement.

Cohen’s recommendations focused heavily on salmon farms

The Conservative government launched the Cohen Commission after just 1.4 million salmon returned in what was expected to be a return of 10 million sockeye salmon for the 2009 Fraser River run.

The inquiry sat for 138 days of hearings, received more than three million pages of documents and listened to almost 900 public submissions.

Cohen’s three-volume report made 75 recommendations, 11 of which focused on the salmon farming industry.

Cohen said the department should not issue any new open net-pen licences in the Discovery Islands, cap production and limit the maximum duration of a licence to one year, starting immediately and at least until Sept. 30, 2020.

On Sept. 30, 2020, the minister should also prohibit open net-pen farms in the Discovery Islands, unless he or she is satisfied those farms pose at most a minimal risk to migrating sockeye, he added.

Cohen said the department should continue collecting fish data from the industry, farmed-fish samples for research purposes as a licence condition, and grant non-government scientific researchers timely access to fish-health data.

Japan to remove perilous Fukushima nuclear fuel rods

October 30, 2013Energy and Resources, NuclearCanadian Press

Fukushima reactor 4 — 1,500 spent fuel rods remain precariously perched atop the badly damaged Fukushima Reactor 4

TOKYO – Japanese regulators on Wednesday gave final approval for removing fuel rods from an uncontained cooling pool at a damaged reactor building considered the highest risk at a crippled nuclear plant.

Removal of fuel rods from the Unit 4 cooling pool is a first step in decommissioning the plant where three reactors melted down after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, a process expected to last decades.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said at its weekly meeting the proposal by the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., is appropriate and the removal can start in November as planned.

The Unit 4 reactor was offline when the Fukushima Daiichi plant was hit by the disasters, but the building was damaged by hydrogen explosions and fire.

TEPCO has reinforced the structure and says the building can survive a major quake, but the unit’s unenclosed pool containing 1,533 fuel rods has caused international concern.

The company has prepared a massive, steel structure that comes with a remote-controlled crane to remove fuel rods, which would be placed into a protective cask and transferred to a joint cooling pool inside a nearby building, which is much lower and considered safer.

The Fukushima plant has had a series of mishaps in recent months, including radioactive contaminated water leaks from storage tanks, adding to concerns about TEPCO’s ability to safely close down the plant.

Read The Common Sense Canadian story “Fukushima Reactor 4: The most important story nobody’s talking about” for a comprehensive account of the risks of these 1,500 spent fuel rods pose.

Ontario skips provincial review of Enbridge Line 9

October 29, 2013Canada, Energy and Resources, Pipelines and Supertankers, PoliticsCanadian Press

TORONTO – Ontario won’t conduct its own environmental assessment of a plan to reverse the flow of the Line 9 oil pipeline that runs through the province, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli said Monday.

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) wants to reverse Line 9 and increase its capacity to move 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, up from the current 240,000 barrels.

It has also asked for permission to move different types of oil between southwestern Ontario and Montreal, including a heavier form of crude.

Liberals abandon provincial assessment

The proposal has sparked protests by hundreds of demonstrators, who have rallied outside the National Energy Board hearings in Toronto and Montreal.

Ontario’s New Democrats are pushing for a separate provincial assessment of the proposal, but Chiarelli said that’s not necessary.

The assessment is a federal responsibility because the pipeline crosses provincial boundaries, he said.

Ontario has intervened in the recent hearings to emphasize that public safety and environmental protection must come first, he said.

The province also called for a “stress test” for the whole system to be assured that the pipeline is safe, Chiarelli said.

“At this point in time, constitutionally we have to rely on what’s there in federal legislation,” he said.

Complain to your local MP

Chiarelli said that if residents feel that the National Energy Board isn’t doing its job to protect the public, then they should complain to their local MP and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“If Ontario does its own environmental assessment … that cannot override,” he said.

“That might inform, but the National Energy Board is responsible for getting the right information on which to make a decision.”

NDP: Ontario has responsibility for protecting water

It’s not the black-and-white issue that Chiarelli makes it out to be, said NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns.

Ontario has passed legislation that spills into areas of federal jurisdiction, such as the Toxics Reduction Act, he said. Other provinces are looking at consultations over pipeline projects.

“The NEB may have jurisdiction over approving a pipeline, but Ontario has a responsibility for protecting its water, it has a responsibility for protecting its land and its air,” he said.

[quote]The federal government can challenge Ontario if it wants, but Ontario is the only jurisdiction that’s going to look out for itself on this.[/quote]

Sending the Tar Sands East

Line 9 originally transported oil from Sarnia, Ont., to Montreal but was reversed in the late 1990s to pump imported crude westward.

Enbridge is now proposing to flow oil back eastward to service refineries in Ontario and Quebec.

The NEB panel has heard from interveners who said the reversal would put First Nations communities at risk, threaten water supplies and could endanger vulnerable species in ecologically sensitive areas.

The Common Sense Canadian has documented similar criticism of the BC Liberal Government’s choice to forgo a provincial assessment of the proposes Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.

Wildrose leader Smith admits climate change real, human-caused

October 26, 2013Climate Change, Climate Science, Politics, Western CanadaCanadian Press

RED DEER, Alta. – Alberta Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, under fire by critics as a weak leader and climate change denier, announced Friday she now believes climate change exists and that mankind is at least partially to blame. As her party delegates opened a weekend policy convention, Smith told reporters:

[quote]I accept that climate change is a reality, as do our members. I accept that there’s a human influence on it. I leave the debate about the details to the science about (to) what extent it is and how fast it is occurring.[/quote]

Smith has been sharply criticized this week for refusing to say if she believes climate change exists, echoing disastrous statements she made in last year’s election campaign.

Afraid of what her members thought

Smith said Friday she has hedged in the past because she wasn’t sure where party rank and file stood on the issue, and said what opinions she did hear were across the spectrum.

“I really didn’t have a gauge of where our members were at because it had never come forward for debate,” said Smith.

“Remember, we are a grassroots party and I do take my marching orders from our members. When our members are silent on particular issues, I try my best to interpret. Sometimes we get it wrong, and in this case I’m pleased to see our members want us to move forward on a policy.”

Wildrose voting on climate policy

Party delegates will vote Saturday on two resolutions to direct the caucus to push for measures to reduce greenhouse gases, which lead to the extreme weather anomalies associated with climate change.

Smith said a straw poll of delegates on Friday indicated those resolutions will pass overwhelmingly, and said she takes that as a green light to speak out on climate change.

“It gives me a mandate,” she said.

The science of climate change has bedevilled the right of centre Wildrose party for more than a year.

According to some political observers it was the single biggest reason the party’s surging popularity fell through the floor just days before the vote in last year’s election, after Smith announced the science of climate change was not settled.

Climate silence attacked by NDP, Conservatives

Earlier this week, Smith declined to spell out her stand on climate change when asked by reporters about the upcoming environmental resolutions.

That led NDP Leader Brian Mason and Environment Minister Diana McQueen to sharply criticize Smith as a poor leader for refusing to stake a stand on a matter of clear importance to Albertans.

McQueen also stated that Alberta would be seen as a “joke” on the international stage if it was represented by a party that didn’t believe in climate change.

Those comments rankled Smith.

“I don’t accept a lecture from a do-nothing environment minister like Diana McQueen,” she said.

“If you look at our neighbours in Ontario and Quebec, they’re already below their 1990 levels (while) Alberta has increased its greenhouse gas emissions by 46 per cent.

“So every time this issue comes up the reason why (McQueen) points at our party is because there’s been absolutely no progress by her party — and it’s affecting Alberta.”

Climate change denier’s speech cancelled

The Wildrose also moved Friday to cancel the headline speaker for a Nov. 2 party fundraiser for MLA Jason Hale.

The speaker was author/filmmaker Bruno Wiskel, known for the book “The Sky is Not Falling,” which argues that glaciers have been melting and water levels rising for millenia, long before humans showed up.

Smith said Hale told her Wiskel was booked by an over-enthusiastic volunteer.

“I understand the fundraiser was put together by one of his well-meaning volunteers, and that the speaker has been cancelled,” said Smith.

“It’s very clear that our members want us to go in a particular direction.”

Stefan Baranski, spokesman for Premier Alison Redford, said the volunteer explanation is a weak fabrication for what was clearly a party-sanctioned event.

He said the fundraiser shows that what the party says and what it believes are two different things.

“Albertans won’t be fooled by Danielle Smith and her promises to sweep their extreme agenda under the rug,” said Baranski.

The verbal fireworks underscore the bitter animosity that exists between Redford’s Progressive Conservative party and Smith’s Wildrose.

Wildrose-Conservative blood-feud

The Wildrose is made up of many disaffected former Tories who grew disenchanted with what they called the party’s top-down management style and its decision to abandon the fiscal conservatism of former premier Ralph Klein and embrace taking on debt to pay for infrastructure.

The blood-feud acrimony surfaced again Friday when the Wildrose kicked out three PC staffers, accusing them of posing as Wildrose delegates in order to spy on the debate.

Smith said all parties allow opposition members to attend rival events as long as they register and are clearly marked as observers.

Baranski said his staffers did register as observers, but were turfed anyway, officially for lack of space.

“What that says to us is the Wildrose is clearly hiding something, clearly afraid of what looking into what their members are debating,” said Baranski.

Smith said that’s not the case.

“We’ve been open to having observers in the past,” she said.

“But if you’re going to try to sneak in and pretend you’re a member and start videotaping or audiotaping other members’ conversations with them thinking that you’re here as another Wildroser, we’re not going to allow for that.

“If they’re going to sneak their way in to spy on us, what else would they expect us to do?”

A mandatory leadership review was also held Friday and Smith received the support of 90.2 per cent of members in the vote.

Residents remain out of homes after CN oil train derailment

October 22, 2013Energy and Resources, Oil&GasCanadian Press

Explosion,-flames-as-oil-train-derails-in-Alberta — Alberta firefighters on the scene of a burning oil train wreck (Dan Reidlhuber/Reuters)

STONY PLAIN, Alta. – Residents of a tiny Alberta community near the site of a train derailment remained out of their homes for third day as CN Rail struggled to get the upper hand on a fire that was threatening the area.

Staff monitoring the derailment near Gainford carried out another controlled burn Monday evening to get rid of any remaining propane in pressurized tank cars that left the track over the weekend.

[quote]We’re not going to let people back until we get the notice that all the crews on the ground are satisfied that it is safe to be back. – Mayor Rod Shaigec[/quote]

It’s the second time in as many days that CN (TSX:CNR) had attempted to vent and then ignite the gas that remains on the train. CN had hoped to have people home after a first controlled burn on Sunday night.

Said Warren Chandler, a spokesman for the railway:

[quote]Unfortunately when we went to inspect the cars … we found that not all the cars had vented their propane. We hoped for an early return, but in the interests of safety, we can’t do that yet.[/quote]

‘Controlled burn’

The controlled burn procedure involves placing small explosives on the hulls of the derailed propane tank cars, then detonating them to punch small holes in the pressurized car shells.

The gas vapour ignites as it escapes and is supposed to burn off in a controlled manner.

Gainford residents have been out of their homes since early Saturday morning when 13 cars on a freight train went off the rails about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton.

Two explosions were reported, so people were ordered from their homes as a precaution. No one was injured.

Over 100 people evacuated

As of Sunday, 126 people had registered with the evacuation centre.

Three of the rail cars were carrying liquefied petroleum gas, commonly known as propane, and caught fire. Four of the derailed freight cars were carrying crude and didn’t break open. CN said those units have been removed from the scene.

Parkland County spokeswoman Jackie Ostashek said some impatient residents have begun taking matters into their own hands.

“There have been some concerns about people trying to breach the roadblocks. We’re trying to ensure that people understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” she said.

Emergency crews have escorted a few people back to their property, she said.

[quote]Where it was safe to do so, we did have fire crews assist people to go back. They took them there only after the determination that they were outside the immediate threat area. It is not something we are encouraging doing and only in exceptional circumstances.[/quote]

Mayor: community frustrated

Mayor Rod Shaigec acknowledged there’s frustration among those affected.

“All the reports that I have is that they are satisfied with the information they’re receiving,” he said.

“Certainly there’s people that are frustrated. (But) every measure is taken to ensure this is going to be addressed as quickly as possible with the focus on safety.

“We’re not going to let people back until we get the notice that all the crews on the ground are satisfied that it is safe to be back.”

Evacuees to be reimbursed

Evacuees are being asked to document their expenses while they are out of their homes so that CN can reimburse them.

“We will ensure that verified claims for damages are promptly honoured,” Chandler said.

On the weekend, officials said there had been no damage to private property in the vicinity of the blast. On Monday, Chandler would not confirm that.

“At a later date, once those priorities are accomplished, we can begin looking at those options,” he said.

CN not ready to pronounce cause of derailment

CN said it is not ready to say what may have caused the derailment or what damage may have occurred, either to the rail company’s infrastructure or the Yellowhead Highway, northern Alberta’s main east-west artery.

The highway remained closed Monday.

$New-Brunswick-group-questions-RCMP's-tactics-breaking-up-fracking-protest$

NB group questions RCMP tactics in breaking up fracking protest

October 22, 2013Energy and Resources, First Nations, FrackingCanadian Press

$New-Brunswick-group-questions-RCMP's-tactics-breaking-up-fracking-protest$

MONCTON, N.B. – A group opposed to shale gas development in New Brunswick is raising questions about the RCMP’s enforcement of an injunction against protesters last week in the province.

Jim Emberger of the New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance says the Mounties should be asked about the authorization, timing and necessity of their actions Thursday near Rexton.

Emberger says there have been many peaceful anti-shale gas demonstrations in the province.

Forty people were arrested and weapons seized when the Mounties enforced the court-ordered injunction to end the blockade of a SWN Resources storage compound for exploration equipment and vehicles.

Six police vehicles including an unmarked van were burned and the RCMP have said they had Molotov cocktails tossed at them.

In response, police fired non-lethal beanbag-type bullets and used pepper spray to defuse the situation.

Emberger told a news conference in Moncton that his group will track the position of candidates on the shale gas issue in next year’s provincial election.

He says the alliance is also raising money to fund a legal challenge to the shale gas industry in New Brunswick.

$Elsipogtog First Nation vows to continue fracking battle$

Elsipogtog First Nation vows to continue fracking battle

October 21, 2013Energy and Resources, First Nations, FrackingCanadian Press

Elsipogtog First Nation vows to continue fracking battle — Elsipogtog First Nation Chief Arren Sock with supporters (Miles Howe/Halifax Media Coop)

REXTON, N.B. – The chief of the Elsipogtog (ell-see-book-took) First Nation in New Brunswick is criticizing the RCMP for its conduct last week in controlling a protest against shale gas exploration, promising his community will continue to oppose the industry’s development in the province.

Arren Sock says every effort will be made to keep its opposition peaceful after 40 people were arrested and weapons seized when the Mounties enforced a court-ordered injunction Thursday to end the blockade of a compound near Rexton, where SWN Resources stored exploration equipment and vehicles.

Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is in New Brunswick to show his support for the band and described the Mounties’ actions last week as the violent use of state power.

Assistant commissioner Roger Brown, the Mounties’ commanding officer in the province, has defended the police response, saying officers seized firearms and improvised explosive devices that were a threat to public safety.

Six police vehicles including an unmarked van were burned and Molotov cocktails were tossed at police, who fired non-lethal beanbag type bullets and used pepper spray to defuse the situation.

Sock says no decisions have been made on how the band will proceed but he expects a meeting later this week with Premier David Alward, whose government believes shale gas exploration can be done while protecting the environment and encouraging economic growth.

On Sunday morning, about 50 people gathered in the rain at the protest site on Route 134. Protesters on Highway 11 in Rexton set up a blockade Saturday for a short period of time.

Sock was among those arrested last week. Police say the arrests were for firearms offences, threats, intimidation, mischief and violating the injunction.

The RCMP blocked Route 134 three weeks ago after protesters began spilling onto the road. Protesters then cut down trees and placed them across another part of the road, blocking the entrance to the company’s equipment compound.

The protesters want SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province. The company says it’s only in the early stages of exploration in New Brunswick.

Final day of Enbridge Line 9 hearings cancelled for ‘security concerns’

October 21, 2013Energy and Resources, Pipelines and SupertankersCanadian Press

Line 9 hearings cancelled — Protestors at Line 9 hearing in Montreal last week (photo: Erin Sparks)

TORONTO – The final day of hearings on a proposal to reverse the flow of a pipeline that runs between southern Ontario and Montreal were cancelled Saturday due to security concerns.

But that didn’t deter dozens of protesters who rallied outside the site of the scrapped hearing to oppose Enbridge’s plan to reverse its Line 9 and increase its capacity to carry crude oil.

“They try to make it seem like we’re not going to have a spill. And it’s very likely that a spill will happen somewhere along this line,” said protester Nigel Barriffe, who lives near Line 9 in northwest Toronto.

Enbridge was to make its closing submissions to the National Energy Board on its plan to reverse the line and increase the pipeline’s capacity to move crude oil.

But the National Energy Board announced late Friday that Saturday’s hearings were off, saying the way the previous day’s hearings ended raised concerns about the security of participants. Protesters were out in force for Friday’s panel hearing, but there was no violence during that demonstration or Saturday’s rally.

The NEB didn’t provide a date for when Enbridge will present its closing arguments.

Protest organizer Amanda Lickers said the NEB should have found a way to let Enbridge make its case in support of the reversal.

[quote]I think that if they were really concerned about security they could have still done it over the web… there could have been ways to make the presentation happen.[/quote]

The panel heard this week from interveners stating the reversal would put First Nations communities at risk, threaten water supplies and could endanger vulnerable species in ecologically sensitive areas.

Jan Morrissey of a Toronto residents’ group showed up early Saturday morning for the hearing, only to learn it was cancelled.

Morrissey said she’s disappointed she won’t get to hear Enbridge’s final reply to arguments made to the board by critics of the reversal.

“It’s sort of like reading a book and not getting to see the last chapter,” she said.

The reversal would increase the line’s capacity to 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day, up from the current 240,000 barrels.

Enbridge has also asked for permission to move different types of oil, including a heavier form of crude from the Alberta oilsands.

Opponents claim the crude Enbridge wants to transport is more corrosive and will stress the aging infrastructure and increase the chance of a leak.

But Enbridge has said what will flow through the line will not be a raw oilsands product — although there will be a mix of light crude and processed bitumen.

Line 9 originally shuttled oil from Sarnia, Ont., to Montreal but was reversed in the late 90s in response to market conditions to pump imported crude westward.

Enbridge is now proposing to flow oil back eastward to service refineries in Ontario and Quebec.

$Elsipogtog community meets over fracking protest$

Elsipogtog community meets over fracking protest

October 20, 2013Energy and Resources, First Nations, FrackingCanadian Press

Elsipogtog community meets over fracking protest — Members of the Elsipogtog Nation and RCMP clash at a recent protest over fracking in New Brunswick

REXTON, N.B. – Hundreds of people gathered at a community hall in New Brunswick on Sunday to discuss their opposition of the development of a shale gas sector in the province as their protest garnered support from a Manitoba grand chief.

Elsipogtog Chief Arren Sock said the meeting at New Brunswick’s Elsipogtog First Nation was a chance for people in his community to tell their stories.

“It’s just part of the healing process and I wanted that to begin,” said Sock after the meeting, which drew about 300 community members and protesters and was closed to media.

Sock would not say if anything was decided during the meeting on how to proceed with the protest over shale gas exploration, noting:

[quote]We just started the healing process and in the coming days I will have more information.[/quote]

Manitoba, NB chiefs stand together

Sock and Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs were expected to hold a news conference at Elsipogtog Monday morning.

Nepinak said the assembly chiefs in Manitoba sent him to New Brunswick to stand in solidarity with the community and protesters.

“We recognize that there are a lot of consistencies in a lot of what is happening across the land with extractive industry and corporate interests versus indigenous rights and our fight to preserve our ecosystems,” he said. “We have a commitment and responsibility to the land and people need to respect that.”

Nepinak wouldn’t say what he thinks Elsipogtog should do next in its opposition to fracking, but said he would stay as long as he was needed.

Apologies to media over equipment seizure

One speaker at the community hall apologized to media who had their vehicles and equipment seized by a small group of protesters Saturday. The apology sparked a standing ovation from the crowd. Some protesters told reporters for Global and CTV News to leave their vehicles and their equipment. Everything was later returned.

Earlier Sunday, about 50 people gathered in the rain at the protest site on Route 134, where tents were set up and protest signs scattered about.

Protesters on Highway 11 in Rexton had set up a blockade Saturday for a short period of time.

Burned vehicles

Days before, six police vehicles including an unmarked van were burned and Molotov cocktails were tossed at police before they fired non-lethal beanbag type bullets and pepper spray to defuse the situation.

The gutted vehicles have since been towed to a nearby parking lot, about five minutes from the protest site.

RCMP said they also found improvised explosive devices on Thursday that were modified to discharge shrapnel and used a fuse-ignition system after enforcing a court-ordered injunction to remove protesters at the site of a compound in Rexton where SWN Resources stored exploration equipment.

40 members arrested, including chief

Officers arrested 40 people — including Sock — for firearms offences, threats, intimidation, mischief and violating the injunction.

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, although the company says it’s only in the early stages of exploration in New Brunswick.