Trans Mountain denies food and water delivery for tree-sit

Trans Mountain workers denied protesters access to a tree-sit this week, as the protesters sought to bring food and water to the tree-sitter.

The move is a departure from past stances taken by the Crown corporation, which has typically escorted people with the necessities for life to tree-sits in the past.

There have been a number of tree-sits in the Brunette River area in the past 16 months, since the original tree-sit was set up by Dr Tim Takaro, a doctor and public health professor at SFU.

This week, Takaro once again set up a tent up in the trees in the area, blocking work on the pipeline.

But while Trans Mountain workers have typically allowed some level of ground support—from food and water deliveries to medical observers—food and water had to be snuck into the place by other means this week, according to Protect the Planet Stop TMX organizer Sarah Ross, who recorded the video.

The video shows people on the sidewalk along North Road, speaking to a man in a reflective vest and a hardhat with a Trans Mountain logo on it.

“I think most of you know who I am,” the man said at the beginning of the recording, before Ross is heard asking if the workers will escort them to the tree-sitter.

“Nope. No, we’re not. It’s not our responsibility to escort someone onto our work area to feed someone who’s [in] there breaking the law.”

The Crown corporation provided a brief statement to Burnaby Beacon, which didn’t address the matter at hand.

“Trans Mountain respects the right to peaceful, lawful expressions of opinions. There is a BC Supreme Court injunction in place that prevents the blocking or obstructing of access to Trans Mountain’s work sites and work areas throughout British Columbia,” Trans Mountain wrote.

“The area in Burnaby is an active work site. When it comes to our operations and construction sites, safety is our first priority—safety of our workers, communities and everyone near our facilities. And to that end, we will make every effort to ensure we can carry out our work and operations safely.”

In an interview with the Beacon, Ross said Trans Mountain has completely fenced the tree-sit in since it was set up on Tuesday.

“So they’ve created the condition where there’s no longer access for us to supply the tree-sitter. … It seems like just a basic right,” Ross said.

She said the group has succeeded in getting food and water to Takaro, but said it was “not with the cooperation of Trans Mountain.”

Asked whether Trans Mountain’s change of tact told her anything, Ross said it could be stress from the numerous issues facing the pipeline currently.

Ross pointed to yesterday’s release of a damning report by the federal Auditor General on climate action from the government, which included taking aim at the Trans Mountain expansion.

But foremost on the mind of Trans Mountain has been the shutdown of the existing pipeline, now closing in on two weeks, due to major flooding in the province.

According to Trans Mountain’s website, work is continuing to get the pipeline up and running again after it was shut down on Nov 14.

“With the continued deterioration of weather conditions in the region in the coming days, Trans Mountain is closely monitoring the situation to ensure our crews can continue to progress safely, particularly in areas still dependent on air support for access and provision of supplies and equipment,” the Crown corporation wrote on its website yesterday.

“The pipeline remains safely in a static condition and there is no indication of any loss of containment or serious damage to the pipe. Our focus has shifted to complete repairs to ensure integrity of the line where it has been exposed and impacted by flooding and debris.”