Correspondence - West Shore RCMP (RE: Potential Deployment of Police Resources re: Coastal GasLink Enforcement Order)

RCMP “E” Division — Letter to Municipal Mayors and CAOs

RCMP “E” Division Headquarters
14200 Green Timbers Way
Surrey, B.C. V3T 6P3

January 28th, 2020

Municipal Mayors and CAOs

Re: Coastal Gaslink pipeline Injunction Order Enforcement

Dear Mayors and Chief Administrative Officers,

On October 2nd 2018, LNG Canada announced plans for Coastal Gaslink (CGL) to construct a natural gas liquefaction facility at Kitimat, British Columbia (BC) which requires approximately 620km of pipeline construction from Dawson Creek to Kitimat. On December 31st 2019, the BC Supreme Court in Prince George provided a court injunction decision with an associated order which prohibits interference with work being done on the pipeline. The police are required by the B.C. Supreme Court to enforce the order but have limited discretion regarding timing; specifically that is required to accommodate formal and timely efforts to resolve the situation; and key project deadlines as articulated by CGL, the plaintiff in this court action.

While the LNG project is supported by the elected First Nation governments along the pipeline route, there remains opposition from some hereditary leaders. The geographic focus for opposition are three encampments located along the Morice West Forest Service Road west of Houston BC. On January 4th 2020, the Unist'ot'en with support from Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs evicted CGL staff from the area. The camps maintain blockades on the Morice West Forest Service Road barring access to CGL in violation of the court order.

The RCMP has made significant efforts along with government and industry to facilitate a resolution but has been unsuccessful thus far. While this process continues, an operational and communication strategy to enforce this order has been developed. Local jurisdictional police do not have sufficient resources to deal with the situation at hand within their geographical boundaries. On January 27th, 2020, Minister Farnworth wrote the BC RCMP advising that he was satisfied that this constitutes a provincial emergency under the Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA).

As an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature requiring additional resources, pursuant to Article 9.1 of the PPSA, Minister Farnworth authorized the internal redeployment of resources within the Provincial Police Service to the extent necessary to maintain law and order, and to ensure the safety of persons, property, and communities in the area. Redeployment is inclusive of BC Municipal resources, pursuant

to (sic) the Province is responsible for paying the costs of any redeployment including salary, transportation and maintenance, at the applicable cost-sharing ratio set out in sub-article 11.1 MPUA.

Any deployment from your detachment will be in consultation with the District and Detachment Commander. While it is important to address emergencies such as this, it is also essential that your community continues to receive adequate policing. The District and Detachment Commander will ensure this balance is maintained and will continue to update and consult with you on any resourcing requests relating to this operation.

Respectfully,

[Signature]

Eric Stubbs, Assist Commissioner
‘E’-Division Criminal Operations

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General — Letter to Deputy Commissioner Strachan

January 27, 2020

Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan
RCMP “E” Division
Mailstop #308
14200 Green Timbers Way
Surrey BC V3T 6P3

Dear Deputy Commissioner Strachan:

Thank you for your letter dated January 14, 2020, regarding the potential police response required to enforce the December 31, 2019 BC Supreme Court injunction prohibiting interference with work being done on the Coastal GasLink pipeline. As you state, opposition to the pipeline construction near Houston, BC has intensified and evolved and the local jurisdictional police do not have sufficient resources to deal with this situation. I am satisfied that this constitutes a provincial emergency under the Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA).

As an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature requiring additional resources, pursuant to Article 9.1 of the PPSA, I am authorizing the internal redeployment of resources within the Provincial Police Service to the extent necessary to maintain law and order, and to ensure the safety of persons, property, and communities in the area. This authorized temporary redeployment is inclusive of BC Municipal Police Service resources, pursuant to article 9.1 of the Municipal Police Service Agreement (MPSA); however, I request that all provincial resources should be exhausted prior to making use of municipal RCMP resources. Should municipal resources be required, please ensure you discharge your obligations under Article 9 of the MPSA to consult with the affected local governments, including advance communications; and, that any impacted municipalities continue to receive adequate policing.

The operational deployment of resources and operational decisions are solely within the internal management and control of the RCMP; however, I ask that you please continue to inform the ministry of the planned actions and any further developments through established channels between executive Policing and Security Branch and RCMP staff. Further requests may be authorized upon consultation with Assistant Deputy Minister Brenda Butterworth-Carr.

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General — Office of the Minister
Mailing Address: Parliament Buildings, Victoria BC V8V 1X4

monitored separately and I look forward to receiving a detailed accounting of these costs.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

Mike Farnworth
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General