[DIV id=headline] [H2]Police move in on B.C. road protesters[/H2]
[DIV id=author] [P class=byline]PETTI FONG
[P class=source]Globe and Mail Update
[UL class=columnistInfo][/UL]
[DIV id=article style="FONT-SIZE: 100%"] [!-- dateline --]West Vancouver, B.C.[!-- /dateline --] — Police moved into the Eagleridge Bluffs where protesters have set up tents for the past four weeks shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday.
But it was a most cordial of exchanges with police helping some of the protesters haul away their coolers, signs and tents.
A few die-hards remained behind police yellow lines after officers, with an enforcement order to remove the protesters, cordoned off the highway right-of-way.
[DIV class="bigbox ad" id=boxR] [SCRIPT type=text/XXXXscript ads="1"]aPs="boxR";[/SCRIPT] [SCRIPT type=text/XXXXscript]var boxRAC = fnTdo('a'+'ai',300,250,ai,'j',nc);[/SCRIPT]
By noon, 23 protesters had been arrested, including the demonstration's spokesman and organizer Dennis Perry.
[P class=body]As he was led with the others to a paddy wagon to be taken to police headquarters, Mr. Perry said: "Mr. Premier, step in and resolve this issue in favour of your public and your voters."
Since April, protesters have been in a pitched battle with the provincial government over a plan to expand the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
"We are continuing to dialogue with them," said Sergeant Paul Skelton with the West Vancouver police. "At the end of the day, we want everyone to go home happy."
The protesters lost a third round in court Tuesday when a Supreme Court judge handed down an enforcement order requested by Peter Kiwet Sons Co., the private contractors hired by the government to do the roadwork.
The Coalition to Save the Bluffs had sought their own injunction to keep the roadwork from starting. The group is trying to convince the government to build a tunnel instead to protect what they call an important ecological and biodiverse area.
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, who has been the target of many of the signs hoisted by the protesters, said the environmental impact will be minimal.
Protesters like John Bannister, who has been at the site for all 38 days, said there's still time for a peaceful resolution.
Mr. Bannister had praise for police, who offered to help him off the site because he's in a wheelchair.
"Police have been pretty great. They have a job to do. Our issue is not with the police but with the government," said Mr. Bannister.
Some remain committed and defiant.
Harriet Nahanee, who left behind the police barricades to get a sweater from her vehicle, said she's preparing for arrests.
"I just came back to get something warmer while I wait for the police to begin arresting me," she said. "I'm not leaving. They're on my tribal land."
[/DIV]
