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Teal-Jones wins appeal to extend injunction against old-growth protesters

Teal Cedar Products, on behalf of Teal-Jones Group, has won a B.C. Court of Appeal case to extend the injunction against protesters in Fairy Creek until September.

The injunction is against a group of protesters operating as the Rainforest Flying Squad who have been blocking roads and preventing logging operations in the Fairy Creek area of Vancouver Island.

In a statement posted following the court decision, Teal-Jones said the blockaders have “crossed the line,” defying repeated requests of local First Nations to leave, and endangering workers and their own lives.

According to the statement, protestors have scattered nails across roads, destroyed helicopter landing pads, and hid in bushes to startle hand fallers operating chainsaws.

Teal-Jones Group’s full statement:

“Today’s decision (found here) affirms the rule of law, confirming that the dangerously illegal actions by blockaders in Tree Farm License 46 not only harm Teal Jones but are also a threat to our democracy and rule of law. While protest and debate are cornerstones of Canadian civil society, the blockaders have crossed the line. They have defied the repeated requests of local First Nations to leave. They have threatened tree spiking and scattered nails across roads. They have destroyed helicopter landing pads to put the lives of pilots and workers at risk. They have jumped out of the bush to startle fallers actively working chainsaws, putting their lives at risk. They have made numerous false claims about old growth protection and harvesting in the area.

Such radical and dangerous conduct harms us all. Teal Jones is pleased that the Court of Appeal affirmed the rule of law, and firmly rejected the arguments of the respondents.

The blockaders have waged a sophisticated misinformation campaign alongside their physical violence. Their arguments against Teal Cedar’s old growth logging operations in TFL 46 are built on a foundation of mistruths.

The fact is more than half of the old growth forest in TFL46 is protected, including the Fairy Creek watershed. Huge swaths of TFL 46 have been removed over the past 30 years and set aside as parks and other protected areas, including what became the 16,500-hectare Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park. We all agree B.C.’s old growth forests need to be protected for numerous values, and vast amounts are. We also believe that forestry can harvest responsible amounts of both old and second growth forest, based on science and engagement with local First Nations. We can, and do, pursue a balanced approach that supports jobs and provides the wood products we all rely on every day while also protecting the environment.”