B.C. throne speech overshadowed by provincewide demonstrations

B.C. Premier John Horgancancelled a news conference planned for Tuesday afternoon, following his government's speech from the throne, because ofdemonstrations outside the legislature.

Dozens of people supporting hereditary leaders of theWet'suwet'enFirst Nation in their fight against a natural gas pipeline blocked all entrances and exits to the legislature in Victoria,disrupting the start of the spring session hours before it even began.

Horgan said British Columbians have the right to protest peacefully, but that he also understands the frustrations of people who weren't able to access their offices inside government building.

"These events show us why meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is our shared responsibility and is critical to our province and our country," Horgan said in a statement, noting thatreconciliation is "hard work."

Victoria police say they're investigating reports that suggest some government staffers were assaulted and injured during the demonstration, and they've asked any witnesses or alleged victims to speak to investigators.

A senior staff member in the premier's office told CBCNews that a handful of employees reported being assaulted as they tried to make their way into the building. One woman was allegedly elbowed in the face, causing a nosebleed, and another was allegedly spit on.

Early Tuesday, demonstrators stopped MLAs, staffers and reporters at every ground-level entrance and exit to the building, chanting andshouting "shame" as they tried to enter.

One reporter ultimately climbed the side of the stone steps to get indoors; other workers already inside were asked to stay put due to security concerns.The formal marble halls were filled with the smell of smoke drifting from a covered fire outside.

After several hours, Victoria police warned they would make arrests if people continued to be blocked from entering the buildings.

It was a scene far from the usual pomp and ceremony onthe day of the throne speech. It took until late in the afternoon, around 4:30 p.m. PT, before the demonstration began to dissipate.

Protesters, led by Indigenous young people, camped out at the front of the legislature for days insupport of Wet'suwet'en hereditary leaders and their fight against the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which is set to run through the heart of the nation's traditional territory in northern B.C. Some supportershave been sleeping at the legislature for nearly a week.

The lieutenant governor usually arrivesto much fanfare on the front steps of the legislature for the throne speech before the premier escorts her indoors. On Tuesday, due to the protest, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin was scheduled tomeet Horganinside before delivering the address.

It wasnot clear how or when Austin entered the building, given the blockade, but she was inside by the time ceremonies began in the early afternoon.

WATCH |Protesters stopped some media from entering the legislature early Tuesday

Dozens of protesters block B.C. Legislature entrances ahead of throne speech

5 years ago

Duration 0:30

A crowd of demonstrators supporting Indigenous hereditary leaders and their fight against a natural gas pipeline disrupted the kickoff of the legislature's spring session.

Speech gets underway

Just after 2 p.m., Austin rose to deliver the speech from the throne, beginning with an acknowledgement of the victims in the Jan. 8 crash of Ukraine International AirlinesFlight PS752.

The speech highlighted some of the NDP government's accomplishments so far, including new primary health-care centresand construction of affordable housing.

The government is promising new funding supplements for children and youth in care, and the expansion of commuter service into the Fraser Valley.

A traditional military salute and honour guardtypically markingthe lieutenant governor's arrival at the legislature wascancelled. Theprorogation ceremony the beginning of the day's events,officially ending the previous session before the new one begins was also postponed.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworthwas inside the legislature ahead of the demonstration Tuesday and said staff are "continuing the day's work."

"I think right now, what the protesters are trying to do is get their point across, and the point of that is obviously trying to obstruct the proceedings and the work in this building," Farnworth said from the hall,asthe sound of chanting and singing outsideoverwhelmedthe corridor's usual hush.

"This is the people's house, this is a place where protest takes place. It's not the first time a protest takes place atthis legislature and it won't be the last."

Horgan has previously said the Coastal GasLink pipeline is of vital economic and social importance to northern B.C. He said the courts have decided the pipeline can proceed and the rule of law must prevail.

But last week's enforcement of a court injunction by RCMP to remove the hereditary chiefs' supporters from a pipeline access route south of Houston, B.C., has led to protests across Canada.

Horgan's government came to power in 2017 due to an agreement with Green Party MLAs, in which the latter said they wouldsupport the NDP on matters of confidence and supply.

The government will table its 2020 budget next week.