The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Where were the police? That was the question many residents were asking after protesters temporarily blocked off the Lalor mine road last week. In actuality, the Mounties were at the site of the afternoon demonstration, said Cpl. Miles Hiebert, a spokesperson for the RCMP in Manitoba. 'I can confirm we were in attendance at the Snow Lake mine demonstration,' he said in a statement to The Reminder. 'Our members were there to ensure the safety of the public and the protection of property. 'As always, the RCMP respects the right of Canadians to partake in peaceful protest, and will work towards a peaceful resolution of any event, and always base our response on the situation as it develops. 'As the provincial police force in the Province of Manitoba, the RCMP's objective is to balance the right (Charter) to peaceful demonstration as well as the safety of officers, the public, and demonstrators involved. 'In managing any type of demonstration, the RCMP will always take a measured response where open dialogue with organizers is favoured and the use of force is always a last resort. 'The RCMP has extensive experience in planning security measures. Our personnel are appropriately trained to apply these measures. We are in a constant state of preparedness and are able to deal quickly with whatever situation arises.' See 'Will...' pg. 8 Con't from pg. 1 'This by no means precludes the RCMP from investigating any unlawful acts and lay charges when appropriate after the event. 'In Manitoba, there have been no reports of injuries by officers, the public or the demonstrators involved relating to any recent demonstrations.' Last Monday afternoon, Jan. 28, about 30 aboriginal protesters set up a blockade at the road leading to the Lalor mine near Snow Lake. They represented the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation of Pukatawagan, which asserts that Hudbay requires the band's permission to operate Lalor since it is on traditional aboriginal territory. Chief Arlen Dumas served Hudbay's Manitoba boss, Brad Lantz, with what the band called a 'stop work order' _ a document with no legal weight under Manitoba or federal law. During the blockade, Chief Dumas said people who needed to go home to their families would be allowed to pass, but incoming vehicles related to Lalor were to be blocked. John Vincic, vice-president of investor relations and corporate communications for Hudbay, said Lalor continued to operate throughout the blockade. Vincic said the company will proceed as planned with Lalor, even if further blockades materialize. Snow Lake Mayor Clarence Fisher didn't see the sense of the protest. 'You know, I'm not quite clear how coming to one municipality is solving problems in your own place,' he told CBC.
