Three people were arrested during rolling blockades protesting old-growth logging in downtown Victoria on Friday.
The blockade, held during the afternoon rush hour, started at Douglas Street at Pandora Avenue with part of the group breaking off and moving to Johnson Street.
“Officers had to close several streets in the area to minimize traffic disruptions and keep people safe,” said Bowen Osoko, a community engagement officer with Victoria police. After several warnings, three arrests were made and other members of the groups departed the area, police said.
Victoria police officers remained on scene to monitor a small number of protesters who stayed behind.
Save Old Growth, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, has staged several blockades in Victoria and Nanaimo this month, resulting in several arrests. Another blockade is expected next week.
The group says the NDP government broke its election promise to stop old-growth logging in the province.
During the 2020 provincial election, the B.C. NDP promised to implement proposals made by the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel, which called for a major shift in how old-growth forests were being managed.
An agreement was reached between four Vancouver Island First Nations in the Nanwakolas Council and Western Forest Products Inc. earlier this month to allow for a two-year deferral of logging for 25 square kilometres of rare, ancient and priority old-growth trees.
In November, the government said it would defer the logging of B.C.’s most rare old-growth trees and gave 200 First Nations a deadline to decide if they supported the deferrals or if they thought further discussion was required.
Forests Minister Katrine Conroy said the temporary halt of logging in large sections of old-growth is an important measure giving First Nations and the forest industry time and space to develop long-term strategies.
