Muskrat protesters applaud Cartwright for clear-cutting demand, plans to block Nalcor

Make Muskrat Right protesters are cheeringCartwright residents for voting to impede the transportation of seven 200-tonne transformers through the town and insisting on major changes to the project to prevent potential environmental damage.

"They realize the danger that this so-called Muskrat Falls dam is going to put this community into and they're actually taking action," protester Eldred Davis said at a demonstration in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Thursday.

"The timing is perfect. The transformers that Nalcor would need to producer power, along with a lot of other things they would need to produce power, can be stopped from actually reaching Muskrat Falls site."

Dwight Lethbridge, Cartwright's mayor, told Labrador Morning that residents don't want transformers moving through town and will block traffic unless Nalcor agrees to their conditions.

"This is people's well-being and their health," said protester Tiffany Lambourne, who was marching to Environment MinisterPerry Trimper's office with a group of about 80 others.

"I'm just really glad to see people standing up for themselves."

LethbridgewantsNalcorto agree to clear the Muskrat Falls reservoir of all soil and vegetation in order to mitigate against a potential spike inmethylmercurylevels downstream, which could contaminate country food like fish and seals.

"The people of Cartwright don't fear the law or anything else when it comes to protecting food sources, culture, tradition. They'll take a stand by whatever means necessary."

Labrador Morning7:37Cartwright vows to block transformer delivery

Cartwright mayor Dwight Lethbridge is doubling down in a public feud with Nalcor over delivery of seven 200-tonne transformers to the Muskrat Falls site through his town and insisting on major changes to the project.

The request follows months of objection and demonstrations led by the Labrador Inuit government, Nunatsiavut.

"People want Muskrat made right, plain and simple. It's part of that same campaign," Lethbridge said. "We're acting for the people that we're supposed to lead and I commend the people for having such a strong voice and making it so clear to us."

• Cartwright, Nalcor butt heads over transformer delivery

Just last week Lethbridge told CBC's Labrador Morning the town council was worried about the impact of heavy traffic on local infrastructure.

On Wednesday, the town held a public meeting where residents made clear they were more concerned with methylmercury contamination.

"The town council went to Nalcor and the province looking for benefits for the community, but the tone and the outcry from the people last night was in a completely different direction," said Lethbridge on Thursday.

"We've been given our direction and that is to stop this project for completely different reasons."

Methylmercury concern 'extremely important': Nalcor

Gilbert Bennett, Nalcor's vice-president in charge of power development, previously told CBC delivery of the seven transformers will use only provincially-owned roads and the port, which is also owned by the province.

On Thursday, in an emailed statement attributed to Bennett, Nalcor said concerns over methylmercury had the corporation's "full commitment and is extremely important."

• N.L. promises to re-examine Muskrat Falls reservoir clearing as Indigenous groups push for change

"We understand people's concerns regarding methylmercury and are committed to working with the aboriginal communities and all of our stakeholders in Labrador on this important issue," the statement read.

Even so, Lethbridge said people in Cartwright would stage a "peaceful protest" with one goal:

"Stop the project, plain and simple. People know how to do it and I'm confident that they'll do it."