Tensions Rise Over Logging

Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 23 February 2010 107.5 KISSFM:

The two sides in a Vernon area logging dispute are headed back to court. Tolko Industries will be seeking an enforcement order Thursday to allow it to log the Browns Creek area after its crews were stopped Monday by the Okanagan Indian Band and Okanagan Nation Alliance. Band members have set up a blockade, and are not letting Tolko equipment through.Band chief Fabian Alexis says no commercial logging will be allowed in that area, to protect the community's water source. Alexis tells Kiss FM, his members are prepared to be arrested, if that was it comes to. "The community gave us a mandate to follow through and protect our watershed, and that would be part of it." Okanagan Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says in the event of arrests, it doesn't mean the issue is over. "We're speaking about the entire watershed here. The current conflict is in relation to eight cut blocks. There's well over 30 cut blocks that are a matter of contention, and the mandate has been provided by the community to protect the watershed, and the fight will continue in that regard by all political means, all legal means and further activities on the ground."

RCMP Sgt Dave Evans says if the order is issued, arrests will not be the first priority. "We're not going to get an order from the courts at 10 o'clock and by 12 o'clock be out there with a riot squad, clearing a road block.That's not how we're going to handle the matter.We'll engage in meetings with both sides and we'll try to find a peaceful resolution to it." While the court issues the order, Evans says the way it's enforced is up to the RCMP.