Protesters block Vancouver traffic in solidarity of anti-LNG protesters

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A dispute over the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. led to protesters disrupting traffic in Vancouver on Wednesday by blocking a key entrance to the port.

For a second day, traffic was disrupted in the city as protesters fight the construction of an LNG pipeline near Houston.

Members of a group calling itself the Alliance Against Displacement have been demonstrating in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en First Nation members who don’t want the 670-kilometre pipeline in their territory.

Traffic delays began around 10 a.m. on Wednesday and lasted until around 4 p.m. Chris Bryan with TransLink said four bus routes had to detour because of the demonstration.

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Two days after the arrests of 14 protesters near Houston, Premier John Horgan says most indigenous leaders support plans to transport natural gas from Dawson Creek to Kitimat, but he defends those exercising their right to demonstrate against it.

“People are responsible for their actions, I would hope that they would remain peaceful,” Horgan said at a press conference on Wednesday. “They have every right to object so we’re British Columbians and we will make ourselves known but I would hope that we would do that in a peaceful manner.”

WATCH: Pipeline protests across Canada

Horgan adds he’s talked with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who’s also expressed hope for a peaceful end to this dispute, but notes there’s no ‘quick fix’ to the issue.

In October, LNG Canada confirmed the construction of a 40-billion dollar export facility in Kitimat.

Construction of this 6.2-billion dollar pipeline is slated to start this month.