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Pipeline protester arrested, then later released

The tense moments over the Coast GasLink pipeline continued Wednesday when a woman was arrested but later released after refusing to back down from blocking a crew on its way to working on the project.
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The tense moments over the Coast GasLink pipeline continued Wednesday when a woman was arrested but later released after refusing to back down from blocking a crew on its way to working on the project.

North District RCMP said she was one of three police found blocking a subcontractor's vehicle while patrolling the Morice River Forest Service Road south of Houston.

While the other two complied with RCMP's request to stand down, the woman did not and was taken into custody.

She was to appear in court the next day, but then CGL officials advised police that it had inadvertently failed to follow an agreement they had made with the protester regarding access.

"Given this information, the RCMP exercised discretion and released the protester immediately with the understanding that the matter would be resolved between the parties," RCMP said.

The $6.2-billion project is to carry natural gas 670 kilometers from the Groundbirch area of the B.C. Peace to LNG Canada's $40-billion export terminal currently under construction near Kitimat.

But Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs are against allowing the pipeline to pass through the First Nation's traditional territory.

They are awaiting a B.C. Supreme Court decision on whether an injunction against blockading the project should be lifted or put in place for the duration of construction after making submissions at the Prince George courthouse in June.