Ottawa Metro News reports, “The group protesting the expansion of Highway 5 through La Pêche is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning as Transport Quebec is seeking an injunction to stop them from blocking construction. The protest group, A5X has been ‘occupying’ the Gatineau Park area near Wakefield, blocking machinery and sitting in trees to prevent the clearing of 200 to 300-year-old trees that they assert are part of Gatineau Park.”
“According to the group, the injunction would allow police to arrest ‘protesters or other citizens found in, or near the future Highway 5 alignment’ and levy fines of up to $50,000. The group will appear March 5th for an interlocutory to present their legal case on why the construction should be stopped, but construction will be allowed to continue if the Quebec government is granted the injunction Monday, the group said.”
If you live in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, please meet us on the steps of the Palais de Justice on 17 rue Laurier in Hull this morning at 8:45 am to show your opposition to the Ministry of Transportation Quebec injunction request. At 9 am in salle 1 at the Palais de Justice the group will argue its case that the cutting should not be permitted. This morning, the Council of Canadians will join A5X and others at the Palais de Justice, which is located midway between the Alexandra Bridge and Portage Bridge on rue Laurier just across from the Canadian Museum of Civilization staff parking area. Please join us if you can.
For Council of Canadians campaign blogs highlighting the efforts to protect the woods and water in this area, please go to http://canadians.org/blog/?s=%22wakefield%22+%2B+%22highway%22.
