The remains of the 125-foot tree cut down today. Photo: The Low Down
A media release just issued by A5X, a group opposing the four-lane Highway 5 expansion near Wakefield, Quebec, notes, “Two protesters remain in ancient trees in Gatineau Park with police, firefighters and paramedics stationed below each tree.” In the Ottawa-Gatineau area it is currently snowing, there is a windchill of -15 degrees Celsius, and there are wind gusts of 50 kilometres an hour.
The media release also notes, “One individual came down and was arrested at 11 pm last night, one came down at 6:30 am and has been taken to hospital to be checked out. He will be charged as well. Four other ground supporters attempting to provide support for the tree-sitters were arrested overnight. They and the first tree-sitter have been taken to the police station in Wakefield. …It’s expected those arrested will be in court today to face charges.”
CBC had reported yesterday, “Protesters against the clearing of a forest to make room for the highway 5 extension in west Quebec say three of their members have scaled a 125-foot tall tree in defiance of a court order. The Quebec Superior Court on Monday granted an injunction on behalf of the province to prevent the protesters from obstructing the highway extension near Wakefield, Que.” The Ottawa Citizen added, “Police have told the protesters that they could be fined up to $50,000 a day if they don’t get out of the park. Reporters and photographers have been ordered out of the area. The protesters will be arrested if they stay in their current location, said Const. Martin Fournel of MRC des Collines police. …Police hadn’t yet decided how they plan to arrest the protesters but they would not be going up into the trees to get them, he said.”
A5X spokesperson Anne Winship says, “It’s a sad state when in a so-called democratic country the only way to be listened to is to take such drastic action. Shame on our politicians: Mr. Charest, Mme. Vallée we will still be in touch. The trees may be cut, but our opposition to this horrible project is not – we will continue to try to save the mountain overlooking our town.”
The Council of Canadians has highlighted that the highway design requires the blasting of rock in a water recharge area where the trees are being cut down. The blasting has led to concerns that the Valley Drive Spring, a popular water source in Wakefield accessed by thousands of people, could be contaminated. The provincial environmental assessment conducted more than 25 years ago did not look at the hydrological aspects of the highway expansion. A preliminary Transport Canada assessment determined the project could contaminate the local aquifer. We will continue to support A5X in their efforts to protect their local water sources, minimize the ongoing damage to the local ecosystem, and for a safer new highway design.
More updates will be posted on the A5X website as available, www.a5x.org. More news can be found in the Low Down, the local newspaper at http://www.lowdownonline.com/. For Council of Canadians blogs on this issue and noting our support for this campaign, please go to http://canadians.org/blog/?s=wakefield+highway.
