One arrested at Maritimes Energy protest in Halifax – The Chronicle Herald.ca

March 31, 2014

One person was arrested after a crowd of protesters descended on a Halifax hotel and disrupted an energy industry event early Monday.

About 150 participants at the gathering hosted by The Maritimes Energy Association heard a 15-minute version of the Mi’kmaq Honour Song, before Energy Minister Andrew Younger had a chance to present his scheduled overview of government energy resource development plans.

“We want everyone to stand up and listen to the Mi’Kmaq Honour Song,” protester Star Child, who said she represented the Wabanati First Nation, announced as some of the assembled protesters started banging drums in accompaniment.

The Wabanati contingent was part of a larger group of about 60 protesters involved with the PowerShift Atlantic event underway in the city. The protesters were waiting outside the hotel as Younger arrived.

Some surged into the event room just as Younger was about to speak.

“We’re here to voice our concerns about fracking and the Energy East pipeline,” Halifax resident Catherine Hart said as protesters made their way inside the hotel to disrupt the breakfast briefing.

Halifax police arrived after about 15 minutes to help association officials persuade most of the protesters to clear the conference room. However, a few apparently had tickets and remained.

Protesters said two members of their group were arrested, but police said later there was just the one arrest and the individual was ticketed and released.

Younger said he would have met with the protesters after he finally had an opportunity to make his presentation, but they left.

 

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