Defiant protesters burn injunction after Manitoba judge orders landfill blockade to come down
Police liaison asked protesters if they would leave after injunction came into effect
Protesters at Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill remained defiant Friday night, ignoring a judge's order to stop blocking the main road into the facility and burning a copy of the injunction he issued earlier in the day.
The main entrance to the city-owned landfill has been blocked for more than a week in response to the Manitoba government's decision not to fund a search of the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, where the remains of two First Nations women who police say were homicide victims — Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran — are believed to be.
Supporters of the blockade at the Brady Road facility said they were willing to get arrested if need be after a Manitoba judge granted an interim injunction that prevents protesters from blocking the main road to the facility.
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Sheldon Lanchbery said Friday afternoon that while the protest is "valid," the city must be allowed to operate the landfill and the roadway can no longer be blocked.
The injunction went into effect at 6 p.m. CT on Friday.
In the minutes before that deadline approached, CBC News observed an official with the city's water and waste department posting the injunction near the blockade site on a placard, which was kicked over by protesters shortly afterwards.
About 20 minutes after the injunction came into effect, Winnipeg Police Service liaison officer Bryan Chrupalo asked Joseph Munro, one the leaders of Camp Morgan, a protest camp set up near the entrance of Brady Road since December, whether demonstrators would leave.
Munro said he would move off to the side and speak to others at the camp but could not say whether anyone would follow him.
Darryl Contois, one of the people taking part in the blockade, announced later the blocakde would remain. Other demonstrators invited police to come and try to arrest them.
As of 7:30 p.m. Friday, about to 50 to 60 protesters were still at the site, including about a dozen children.
A few minutes later, a crowd gathered as a copy of the injunction was set on fire.
Earlier on Friday, more than 40 people packed the Winnipeg courtroom when Lanchbery gave his decision. Many stormed out of the room upon hearing the ruling.
Outside the courthouse, some supporters of the blockade said they were were angered by the judge's decision and were prepared to be arrested.
"If that's what the Canadian government wants to do and force on our people, then so be it. Let us get arrested," said Aundrea Spence.
WATCH: Supporters of blockade say they're prepared to be arrested:
Val Vint said it was frustrating to see the blockade at the Brady landfill ordered to end after a matter of days, drawing a comparison with a protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and public health orders that was allowed to block streets in downtown Winnipeg for weeks last year.
"We want our sisters dug up from out the most inappropriate burial site you can think of, and they're going charge us right away, but they let those truckers sit out there for how long?" said Vint.
Protesters must be allowed to remain at or near the site to continue protesting, but cannot block the roadway, Lanchbery told the court.
Winnipeg police will have full authority to enforce it, according to the judge's decision.
A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Police Service said police have not seen the court decision yet but will determine their next steps once reviewing it.
"We do not typically provide information regarding police operational plans," said Const. Dani McKinnon.
At the blockade, protester Diane Bousquet said the group is awaiting to hear how the homicide victims' families would like to proceed.
"As for myself, I plan to be here and push that line until told otherwise. I have no plan to go anywhere today."
'This matter isn't done'
The City of Winnipeg applied for the injunction on Tuesday, arguing it was needed to address concerns about environmental, safety and financial risks that could cause "irreparable harm" to the city if the blockade continues.
Lawyers for the city declined to comment following Friday's decision.
Lanchery's decision comes after the city and protesters failed to reach a compromise, something the judge had asked both parties to try to do Thursday.
The protesters' lawyers had requested a longer adjournment, but Lanchbery said he believed there needed to be a decision on the injunction Friday.
"What this boils down to is no one in this province is allowed to block a highway," the judge said Friday morning.
"This is a public roadway."
The injunction order is temporary until lawyers for both parties can prepare a more substantive case, which will be heard in court at a latter date. At that point, the injunction could either continue or be dismissed by a judge.
"This matter isn't done," said Sacha Paul, one of the lawyers for the protest group. "There's still something pending."
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With files from Josh Crabb and Bartley Kives