One man arrested at Tsawwassen power protest
Crews installing last seven of 19-tower, transmission-line project
Frank Luba, The Province [British Columbia]
Published: Friday, July 25, 2008
A protester was arrested yesterday for allegedly breaching a court order prohibiting interference with a $275-million, high-powered transmission-line project in Tsawwassen.
“When the police came to tell us we should move back, this gentleman was just asking where the line was, where he should not stand,” said resident Yvonne Bennett, who was among 20 or so protesters at the site.
“The officer told him he was under arrest.
“We feel it’s unacceptable. We have the right as Canadians to be here.”
The man was released and not charged. Const. Paul Eisenzimmer said the investigation is continuing.
Residents who are opposed to the project say it presents health and safety risks.
Two other protesters are to appear in B.C. Supreme Court on Aug. 1.
The first, a Vancouver man, is alleged to have interfered with the project by sitting on a pole stub — a support for a transmission tower — and ripping out survey stakes.
The second, a Delta man, is alleged to have used a large mirror to reflect light at two workers in a bucket truck almost 20 metres in the air.
B.C. Transmission Corp. spokeswoman Thoren Hudyma said workers on the project have been verbally threatened, and had bags of dog feces thrown at them and hung off equipment.
“We’re hoping that people will show some respect for the court process,” said Hudyma.
“We hope people in the community will allow our workers to do their job safely.”
The Tsawwassen portion of the line from the Lower Mainland to Vancouver Island is the last part of the project. Twelve of the 19 towers in Tsawwassen have been finished. The line is supposed to be operating in October.
Confrontation 
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