B.C. prosecutors considering criminal charges for Trans Mountain protesters
VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s Prosecution Service is considering criminal charges against dozens of people arrested for protesting Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
But it will be up to a pair of newly appointed special prosecutors to determine whether charges will be laid against Green party Leader Elizabeth May and New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart.
May, Stewart and several others were arrested on March 23 and charged with civil contempt of court over allegations that they protested within five metres of two Trans Mountain construction sites in Burnaby, B.C., despite a court injunction prohibiting the action.
The prosecution service says in a statement that it has conducted a general review of the cases and concluded that criminal contempt proceedings are warranted for those who were arrested after breaching the injunction.