Protests are occurring across the country and in this province in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en members and chiefs arrested by RCMP over protesting the Coastal GasLink.

Nearly 50 people were arrested in Vancouver and nearby Delta yesterday morning after police executed a court injunction against demonstrators blocking busy ports in both cities, while protests also took place in Victoria, Montreal and St. John’s at the Muskrat rate mitigation news conference.

Chants of “Solidarity!” and signs calling for government to respect indigenous sovereignty over their territory greeted politicians at MUN’s Signal Hill campus. The protest was organized by the Labrador Land Protectors and supporters on campus.

It was a noisy demonstration with lots of chanting and singing, but they did not disrupt the news conference.

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan was not surprised and had no problems with their protest. He says there are going to be protests as people feel strongly about the issue.

He says he was happy to hear their concerns.