Lytton First Nation blockade of Trans-Canada ends

A blockade by the Lytton First Nation has been removed, after shutting down the Trans-Canada Highway through B.C.'s Fraser Canyon Wednesday afternoon.

Angry members of the band said the blockade,which was in placefrom noon to 2 p.m. PT following Tuesday's information picket, is the next step in their protest against service cuts to a vital ferry link between the Lytton First Nation and the Village of Lytton.

The blockadecould beredeployed, or a rail-line closure is possible if the province refuses to declare the ferry an essential service, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs president Stuart Phillip said.

One solution would be to transfer control of the ferry service to the Lytton band from the strikebound road maintenance contractor currently operating the link, said Phillip.

The Lytton band is furious that service on the tiny ferry linking their reserve to Lytton has been severely limited since late April because of a strike by highway maintenance workers.

The band says the ferry is essential to its 400 members because without it, they face a four-hour detour over logging roads or a dangerous and illegal walk over an elevated rail bridge.

The Lytton First Nation hopes the blockade will pressure the B.C. government to declare the Lytton ferry an essential service.