Two Powell River residents were among those sentenced last week for their stance on the blockade protesting the Trans Mountain Pipeline on May 18. They were arrested during a week of protests at the Trans Mountain terminal in Burnaby.
Ron Berezan and Jo Ann Murray were among five people sentenced by BC Supreme Court justice Kenneth Affleck on Thursday, Nov. 22.
According to a media release from online site Protect the Inlet, which describes itself as the home of the resistance against the Trans Mountain Pipeline and tanker project, Berezan and Murray, both from Powell River, and Judith Rees-Thomas were sentenced to seven days in jail and taken into custody immediately. Danika Dinsmore was given a conditional sentence of seven days home detention and 150 hours of community service.
The Peak has reached out to Berezan, who has been unavailable for comment. But on his Facebook page, Berezan stated that he, Murray and Dinsmore were given the option of serving their jail sentences continuously or intermittently.
“Jo and Judith chose to do their time all at once,” stated Berezan. “I chose an intermittent sentence and will serve two days a week in Powell River at the RCMP starting this coming Monday.”
The fifth protester to appear before Judge Affleck for sentencing was 85-year-old Victoria resident Joanne Manley, who received a fine of $2,000 and 14 days of house arrest.
Even though construction of the pipeline is stalled, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s Nov. 21 fiscal update showed that the Trans Mountain Pipeline generated $70 million in earnings from existing assets.
