Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan not only received criticism from afar Monday over the policing of the Trans Mountain pipeline protest, but he was also blasted by a resident up close, although for a different reason.
Earlier in the day, Corrigan said the city would not pay for the costs incurred by Burnaby RCMP to enforce court injunctions prohibiting protesters from blocking access to the Kinder Morgan facilities on Burnaby Mountain. Corrigan said those costs should be paid by the federal government because it gave the go-ahead to the pipeline expansion. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called Corrigan’s position “irresponsible.”
Nearby resident Robert Buchko, meanwhile, berated Corrigan and city council Monday night because the RCMP wouldn’t allow him access to his home during demonstrations. He called it a violation of his rights.
The Lawrence Drive resident told council that on the first two Saturdays in March he left home in the morning to do some errands. He tried a couple of different ways to return, but the senior said the police told him he’d have to park his car and walk in. Since he has a bad knee, he was not happy about that prospect.
“I’m still very, very upset about this,” said Buchko. “This is inexcusable. Inexcusable.
“People living there should have the right to get into their home.”
Buchko said the RCMP told him to phone the police detachment. However, a non-emergency number he found resulted in a busy signal every time he called. He found out later the number had been changed. He said the RCMP also had a dedicated number for the protesters who had been arrested.
“It seemed the (pipeline protesters) had more rights than I had,” said an annoyed Buchko.
He told council the city should have made plans to accommodate residents during the protests so they could come and go from their homes. He feared ambulance or fire trucks wouldn’t be able to get in or out either.
“If there’s an emergency, what would have happened?” said Buchko.
Council, he said, owes him and the residents of Montecito and Forest Grove an explanation.
Corrigan apologized to Buchko for his “bad day.”
“I do not want to see our citizens inconvenienced the way you were inconvenienced,” said Corrigan. “What we’ve got is a situation going on in our community that inconveniences a lot of people in our time.”
He added a lot of the situation is outside the city’s control. He pointed out the protest marches were put on without the approval of the city, and a B.C. Supreme Court ruling earlier determined the protesters could reside near the Kinder Morgan facility and put up a temporary building.
“Much of this is happening outside of our authority,” said Corrigan. “We are trying our best to cope with this problem as it comes on and protect our citizens from any impact.”
Buchko, however, would not accept Corrigan’s explanation, saying council should have had the foresight to see resident access was going to be a problem during protests.
“You cannot tell me this was not going to happen,” said Buchko. “Please don’t tell me that excuse because I’m not going to buy it.
“I promise you I will not let this go.”
