Two guys set up bridge blockade counter protest

Two Sault men-Ted Johnston and Kyle Laford-spent Tuesday afternoon opposite a gathering of Indigenous protesters who are currently restricting access to the International Bridge from Huron Street.

Their message was the protestors actions, along with many other protest blockades of rail lines across Canada, are illegal.

“It’s peaceful, yes. But it is also illegal because it is preventing other Canadians from exercising their rights. Canadians cannot cross this piece of road to the bridge,” said Johnston, speaking to SooToday.

The current situation near the International Bridge comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Feb. 21, called for the Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades to come down.

Protesters in multiple provinces have been mounting rail and road blockades for nearly three weeks as a show of support for the chiefs, who oppose a natural gas pipeline project that cuts across their traditional territory and are engaged in contentious negotiations with the federal government over police presence on their land.

Earlier today, Candace Neveau described the International Bridge blockade as a ceremony rather than a demonstration. 

City police have noted that the blockaders have been acting peacefully and that bridge traffic is not being blocked, as travellers are still able to use the Carmen's Way entrance to the bridge.

Pointing to the effect blockades have had on Canadian rail lines, Johnston said “CN actually cancelled millions of dollars worth of shipments. That’s infringing on other people’s rights. That is illegal, not to mention immoral.”  

“If they were protesting without breaking any laws and without infringing on other people’s rights I would support their right to protest. But they are breaking laws and they are trampling on other people’s rights, so therefore I don’t support it.”

Pointing to the area at the northeast corner of the Bridge Plaza where the protestors are gathered, Johnson said “if they were over here not blocking traffic, not burning fires on Crown land, I would support what they're doing, but because they are doing it illegally, I am against it.”

“The three levels of government, federal, provincial and municipal, have all failed the people who live in this country because they have not cleared illegal blockades.”

Johnston, who ran unsuccessful mayoral campaigns in 2014 and 2018, said he has not contacted any politicians at any of the three levels of government to discuss the matter. 

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett said the federal government was still hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

"That's why I have been in regular communication with hereditary chiefs over the last week and I have communicated that we are available to meet in person any time."

Both Johnston and Laford said they share many of the same environmental concerns raised by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. 

In BC, Wet’suwet’en territory hereditary leaders have stated development of the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink gas pipeline would be an act of trespassing on their land, (which is unceded), and environmentally dangerous. 

“I am very concerned about the environment. I’ve got two young daughters who are growing up in this world. There is more we can all do to cut emissions,” Laford said.

“I would support legal protests, but this infringing on the rights of others, and rail movements, border crossings...it’s got to stop,” Laford said.

As reported earlier, Sault Police have said they are monitoring the situation at the bridge plaza, with access to the International Bridge still available to motorists via Carmen’s Way.

- with files from The Canadian Press